The National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPOK) Meru branch have launched security and consultancy services that will mainly operate in Meru County.
The launching ceremony held at Meru Teachers Training College grounds was attended by the association’s national leaders as well as other top security officials from the county who are still in service.
Speaking during the occasion, Meru Youth Service (MYS) Chief Executive Officer Juliana Mugure who represented Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu congratulated the officers for coming up with the noble idea that will enhance their welfare during retirement time.
Mugure said the County government was ready to work with NARPOK, Meru chapter especially in offering security services.
“Meru Youth Service mainly rehabilitates young people by trying to change their mind set and make them employable. We have been working together with the chapter to ensure the young people transition and we are happy some of our recruits have been absorbed in the security firm we are launching today,” she said.
The County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo who was also in attendance said the coming together of the retired officers was an encouragement even to the officers who are still in service, but had been wondering where to run to after retirement.
“This organisation has encouraged some of us who are nearing retirement and we encourage you to move on with the same spirit in order to achieve your goals,” said Ngumo.
He added, “Salaried employment is very impersonal. The time you retire the organisation forgets about you, but with these kinds of groups, you will always have a fall back.”
NARPOK national chairman Dr. Francis Sang in a speech read on his behalf by a representative, congratulated the Meru Chapter for moving another step ahead, besides other investments including in real estate.
“It is a great pleasure to preside over this occasion and I wish to congratulate the Meru chapter for making Narpok’s dream come true,” said Sang.
He said the association had proved important to about 2,500 registered members who are able to link up with their former colleagues, chat through social media platforms as well as come together to console each other in times of bereavements.
The chairman said the idea of forming a security firm was generated in 2016 after realising that the association had highly trained and experienced officers who contribute immensely to the safety issues.
“Narpok is a vehicle through which we shall deliver our members to the promised land. Retirement is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new way of life,” said Sang.
He congratulated the Meru Chapter for being the first to operationalise consultancy and security services and and called on the other chapters to follow suit.
Meru Chapter Chairman Charles Kinoti Narangwi said they so far have a membership of 250 but were still open to more registration.
He said their main objective and programmes of the chapter revolve around the welfare of the members and they were slowly achieving it.
“We have so far bought about six plots in Meru and Isiolo counties and we also encourage our members to engage in agribusiness in order to generate more income away from the salaries they had been receiving while in service,” said Narangwi.
The chapter also encourages its members to enrol in the last expense insurance cover where in case of bereavement, the next of kin receives a certain amount to keep them moving.
Joseph Mutwiri, the NARPOK Meru Chapter treasurer said the launch of the security firm was a significant and memorable moment that they had been anticipating.
“Some of the security firms in our country are owned by big multinational companies who make money and plough it back to their mother countries. By this launch, we are convinced that we will realise more revenue to support the ageing members as well as create job opportunities for our young people,” said Mutwiri.
He said the move will enable them to improve their livelihoods in retirement and eventually prolong their lives.
Some of the services that will be offered by the security firm include institutional, corporate and residential guards, private investigations, security consultancy, events coverage, security surveys and audits.
Others include Closed Circuit Television Network (CCTV) installation, manual and automated metal detection equipment, security alarms and fire equipment installation and electric or razor wire perimeter fencing.
By Dickson Mwiti
