Police ready for polls, acting Interior CS Matiang’i says

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i. He says police are well equipped and ready for the August 8 General Election.

By Prosper Muro

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has said the National Police Service (NPS) is ready, both in capacity and equipment, to support the electoral agency in ensuring successful elections.

Dr Matiang’i said the police are well equipped to ease their mobility before, during and after the elections.

He spoke at Wilson Airport after inspecting a police helicopter that had been under refurbishment.

“We have increased the capacity of the police and we are committed to achieving our goal of securing the country. So far, we have had the most peaceful pre-election period since 1963,” the CS said.

HELICOPTER

The MI 17 helicopter was handed over to the police, bringing to four the number of planes currently available to them.

Another helicopter, a long-range aircraft with the capacity to carry 36 fully equipped security officers, was delivered to the Police Air Wing division in March this year while the other two, which had been faulty, were repaired.

Dr Matiang’i said the capacity and ability of the Police Air Wing has tremendously improved in the last four years under the NPS modernisation programme.

ELECTIONS

“The job of the police is very clear and so far, they have all the equipment that they need and they have no excuse for not being able to move,” Mr Matiang’i said at Wilson.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, who was present at the function, assured Kenyans that the police would ensure security is maintained during and after the elections.

Also present were Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro and Air Wing Commandant Rodgers Mbithi.

The National Police Air Wing has several trained pilots, five of whom are women, while several other pilots are under training.