Police Sector To Face Key Changes, Says CS Matiang'i

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has said that there are changes that will be made in the police sector to ensure that they offer competent and efficient services to the people.

Key among the changes being the gender relations that have resulted in harassment in the security sector.

Matiangi, while speaking at the opening ceremony of a brand new direct entry Kenya Police Service Cadet Course inspectors, at Kiganjo Police Training College Nyeri, which he presided over, said that an Ethic and Gender Relations unit will be established directly under the Inspector General to deal with the matters.

“ We will create a new office of Ethics and Gender Relations directly under the Inspector General,” said Matiang’i.

He further confirmed that some women in the police sector have reported cases of sexual harassment and mistreatment, some of which have been investigated.

The CS warned that a police officer caught violating such laws to sexual harassment will be stripped off and gotten out of the service.

“You are officers, we don’t expect you to leave here and go to have affairs with the constables whom you are managing,” said Matiang’i, “when it gets to that point, one of you has to leave.”

He added: “You must maintain a standard code of conduct in the police service.”

Matiang’i noted that such cases as witnessed, have been happening as a result of the lack of a stringent ecosystem in the security sector; he assured the public that such cases will not happen again in the future.

He further warned that cases of indiscipline shall be acted on and not talked about.

He urged the founder class, which consists of 300 university graduates from different fields, to be standard-bearers of quality police officers that the country is looking for.

We are looking for dedicated, committed, honest, and very respectful police officers; disciplined people who will know how to work not just with their colleagues but work with other public officers to focus on the goal which is to keep our country safe and secure and to make sure that we serve our people, said the CS.

He added that the pioneer class should be a role model to others by raising the standard of leadership and command in the police service.

The training will run for nine months.