The United States government on Monday donated an assortment of equipment to the Internal Affairs Unit, an internal policing oversight unit within the National Police Service (NPS).
A representative of the US Embassy in Nairobi, Roselyn Linguli, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Programme Assistant presented the donations to the Assistant Inspector General of NPS, William Sing’oei who was representing the Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai at the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) headquarters at KCB Towers in Nairobi.
The equipment included three Samsung TV sets of 82 inches, two projectors, 100 shredder bags, laptops, printers, toner cartridges, anti-virus, TV mounting bracket and projectors among other items.
Mutyambai in a speech read on his behalf by Sing’oei said the equipment would help the unit in realizing its vision of having an integrated information management system.
“This system will bring an efficient complaint management structure as it will enable investigators to track status of cases under investigation easily from the comfort of their desks,” said the IG.
He commended the US Embassy for its continuous support to the unit through donating intelligence and surveillance equipment as well facilitating training of IAU investigators in basic and advanced crime scene management and training officers in core interview and interrogation among others.
The IG who lauded the existing bilateral relationship between the two governments of Kenya and the USA, assured the donors that the office will utilize the equipment well.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Internal Affairs Unit, Mohamed Amin thanked the US Embassy for the on-going training of trainers and development of a curriculum for IAU staff which is being facilitated by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol.
Linguli said the US government has partnered with the National Police Service for a long period and would continue to support NPS and in particular the Internal Affairs Unit to enable it discharge its mandate effectively.
The Internal Affairs Unit is mandated with the role of receiving and investigating complaints against police officers, promoting uniform standards of discipline and good order in the service as well as keeping records of the facts of complaints and investigations made.
It also investigates and hears complaints from members of the Service and members of the public and recommends appropriate action in respect of any officers found engaging in any unlawful conduct.
By Bernadette Khaduli
