The National Parliamentary Security Committee has lauded the Police Service in the country for its concerted efforts to ensure Covid-19 mitigation guidelines are followed.
The team led by the chair Paul Koinange made the remarks while in Nandi County on a fact finding mission on the issues affecting the security organs and what could be done to address them.
Other members of the committee were Joshua Kaluma (Homabay), Tecla Tum (Nandi), Shurie Abdi (Mbalambala), Kabinga Wachira (Mwea) and nominated MP Halima Mucheke.
The committee was informed that Nandi County is progressing well apart from a few issues hampering effective service delivery to the residents.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding told the committee that the county was relatively calm with a few incidences that were threatening peace and security.
“We are progressing well expcept for a few incidences of crime, cattle theft, land and boundary disputes that are of concern,” said Omoding.
Omoding said that to address the issues, sub county peace committees were in place to discuss and chart the way forward.
“We also have cross border peace meeting and committees that sit on a monthly basis to foster peace and address any arising cases,” explained Omoding.
The CC informed the committee that the greatest challenge is inadequate personnel for instance some locations and sub locations being vacant and a further two gazzetted divisions have got no Assistant County Commissioners.
The team also visited Kapsabet Police Station and held discussions with the officers stationed there.
The County Police Commandant Samson Kine said the county has eleven police stations and 875 officers.
The stations in Nandi Central, North and Tinderet have fairly good structures while the ones in Kabiyet, Nandi South and Chesumei are doing badly.
“The Sub-county police commanders in Nandi South and Chesumei have no office space and vehicles posing a challenge for the officers to discharge their duties effectively,” he said.
Kine added that the department requires additional fuel to be able to service the vehicles to help officers navigate scenes in their line of duty.
Another issue raised was for the National Police Service to consider extending medical cover to officers who exit service upon retiring so that they may continue receiving treatment for that is the time they need the cover much more.
Koinange informed the forum that the issues raised would be escalated to the relevant institutions to expedite resolving them.
“We are happy about the police for the service they are giving to the people especially in addressing the curfew, health regulations observance and gatherings during the Covid 19 pandemic,” said Koinange.
On the border issues affecting the County, the Chair said the committee was aware of what is happening and there were ongoing investigations to put the matter to rest.
By Bethsheba Abuya
