CS Murkomen says vehicle shortage for police, administration officers fueling insecurity in Kenya
As part of a broader initiative to reduce fuel costs and improve mobility, NGAO officers in Kilifi and other towns will be provided with 1,000 electric vehicles.
Half of the police stations nationwide have no vehicles, and 40 per cent of National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) are without transport, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.
Speaking at a public security baraza held at St. Thomas Girls Secondary School in Kilifi Town, Murkomen said the lack of mobility for police chiefs and officers is the biggest challenge in the country's ongoing battle against insecurity.
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“Police and NGAO officer welfare is a nationwide concern. I have seen the magnitude of these challenges at the grassroots level. Half of the police stations nationwide have no vehicles, and 40 for police chiefs and officers of NGAO officers have no mobility, and the few vehicles available are old,” Murkomen said.
He, however, added that the government is actively addressing the issue.
“Procurement is already ongoing at the Treasury to acquire 5,000 vehicles, which will be distributed among NGAO, prisons and police services,” Murkomen said.
He further explained that the evaluation process for vehicles and motorcycles for chiefs would be completed by August.
As part of a broader initiative to reduce fuel costs and improve mobility, NGAO officers in Kilifi and other towns will be provided with 1,000 electric vehicles.
He decried the difficulties faced by officers, noting that some of those in active operations had to travel long distances for vehicle servicing.
“The President ordered me to show that the electric vehicles work and that I should have one,” he said.
He admitted that while the procurement of vehicles and motorcycles wouldn’t solve all of the challenges, it would address the most pressing issues.
The CS also highlighted a shortage of police officers, noting that it is affecting the rotation policy.
He, however, emphasised that the government plans to recruit 10,000 new officers over the next three months to address the shortage.
Operational challenges
“There are operational challenges that make rotation difficult, and the biggest challenge is numbers. We need to increase our numbers,” he said.
“We have few police officers with a lot of operational pressure. Even if you want to redeploy officers in operational areas, where do you get trained officers who understand the mission? It’s a challenge.”
Murkomen indicated that improving officer welfare and recruiting more personnel would require Sh2.5 billion from the budget.
“We must prioritise the welfare of police officers. We will recruit more officers and acquire more vehicles to strengthen our security forces within the year,” he said.
At the same event, senior police officers in Kilifi raised concerns over the long tenure of some officers, which they said was becoming a security threat.
Chief Inspector Christopher Nyamawi, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Mtwapa Police Station in Kilifi South, pointed out that officers who had overstayed in their stations were becoming too familiar with the community, which made enforcing the law difficult.
“There are officers who have overstayed—some for over 10 years—and it’s a challenge enforcing laws and directives because of their over-interaction with the public,” Nyamawi said.
Nyamawi also lamented the understaffing of many police stations, which further complicated their ability to function effectively.
“You find a police station with seven officers, including the OCS. Among them, four have health issues, so only three—the OCS, officer in charge of the armoury, and one extra officer—are fit to work,” he said.
Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi echoed the concerns, pointing out the insufficient number of officers in her constituency. She noted that the shortage of officers had contributed to the rise of criminal gangs in the area.
Mnyazi also highlighted the challenges faced by Langobaya and Kakuyuni police stations. She said Langobaya Police Station, located in the farthest part of Malindi, has just 13 officers, while Kakuyuni has only four officers, two of whom are unfit for duty.
“When I look at Malindi’s population and find only 120 officers, I feel we are understaffed and need more officers for effective policing. The proliferation of criminal gangs that attack and rob the public in broad daylight is a result of this understaffing,” she added.
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