The government has invested Sh7.6 billion and plans to allocate an additional Sh29.4 billion over the next three years to protect police officers and enhance national security. This investment is part of a program aimed at equipping the police with advanced gear, including armored personnel carriers, mine-resistant vehicles, drones, gunship helicopters, minesweepers, and personal protection equipment.
“The new equipment is expected to bolster operations such as Operation Maliza Uhalifu in the North Rift Valley and counter-terrorism efforts in the northeastern region and the Boni enclave in Lamu County,” the Interior Ministry stated.
These efforts target services in underserved and vulnerable areas, focusing on improving governance to ensure public safety and national security while creating a conducive environment for economic development, according to the ministry.
In related developments, the National Police Service (NPS) is now an independent entity after its budget was transferred from the Office of the President, empowering the Inspector General as the accounting officer. For the 2024/25 financial year, the NPS has been allocated a substantial Sh110 billion.
Other measures to reform the service include the establishment of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, whose report was submitted to the President in November 2023.
“The Interior ministry has since finalised a comprehensive strategic framework to unpack and implement the report that identified 271 recommendations for the Police, 210 for Prisons, and 117 for the National Youth Service (NYS),” the ministry said.
The first phase of implementing the reforms has prioritised actions requiring no additional funding, such as revising service charters and developing new service standards.
“We are similarly bringing development partners to the table to support some of the projects and programmes identified in the recommendations,” said Internal Security PS Raymond Omollo.
The government, he added, had eliminated discriminatory processes related to ethnicity or religion, including vetting of some Kenyans before they could be issued with a national identity card.
“Every Kenyan should be treated equally. We have changed the old policy and have concluded the policy documents. There will no longer be vetting for people who want to get their IDs,” President William Ruto said previously.
As of May 2024, the government has abolished the vetting process previously required for certain ethnic groups. The President stated that the former process, which demanded additional documentation such as birth certificates of parents and grandparents, was discriminatory and hindered many individuals from obtaining their IDs.
The government has also recognized the citizenship of the Pemba community, as noted by Omollo. The Pemba, who have lived in Kenya’s coastal region for decades, were previously stateless and lacked official recognition. This status had impeded their access to essential services like healthcare and education and prevented them from obtaining identity documents.
The Interior Ministry also announced that the implementation of the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act on May 14 has ushered in an era of enhanced collaboration and transparency for PBOs. A key aspect of this new legal framework is its potential to expedite the registration of organizations, which is crucial during humanitarian crises.
“A faster registration process means that PBOs can mobilize resources and respond to emergencies more swiftly, providing timely assistance to those in desperate need,” Omollo explained. The PBO Act creates a more conducive environment for these organizations to operate with greater efficiency and effectiveness. It also establishes a regulatory and administrative framework that enhances transparency.
