Kirinyaga leaders have called for an overhaul of the police service to ensure a human oriented and a competence based result unit.
The leaders made the remarks as they underscored the need to prioritise officers’ welfare through provision of a full risk insurance cover, proper housing and a conducive environment while undertaking their duties.
Speaking on Saturday in Mwea, Kirinyaga county, during the burial of GSU officer Boniface Muthii,the leaders called for the quick implementation of such critical changes saying nothing now stands in their way as the police sector is autonomous on matters to do with financial management.
Muthii ,26, was one of the eight officers, two civilians and one chief killed by cattle rustlers in Turkana a week ago.
Led by county senator Kamau Murango, the leaders urged the office of the Inspector General to prioritise insuring the health, properties and lives of the officers due to the risky yet crucial nature of duty they carry out.
“Some of the officers once gone, their families are left languishing in poverty as their bread winners are no more. There is therefore a great need for their welfare to be looked into by provision of full- risks insurance coverage even as we purpose to align and professionalise the police force.
The senator also called on the government to deal ruthlessly with bandits destabilising the peace of the nation. He described cattle rustling as an outdated terroristic and repugnant culture that needs to be tackled head on.
“Those mercilessly killing others in the name of stealing cattle should be treated and dealt with ruthlessly as terrorists. The stop to this retrogressive practice is long overdue and a time has come when this needs to be confronted mercilessly,” he said.
At the same time, Murango called for the restructuring of military operations where he urged the state to consider deploying the newbies to safer areas to enable them get accustomed to their duties before being dispatched to hardship areas.
While describing the fallen soldier as a patriotic gallant officer, he at the same time decried the high number of soldiers from Kirinyaga who have in the past lost their lives while on duty in insecurity prone areas.
“Just as we are a peace keeping community, we want the state to ensure that a conducive work environment prevails in other regions where we release our residents to. We have had to mourn for long over our sons who come back lifeless after being killed while offering their services.”
County Woman Rep Njeri Maina echoed similar sentiments as she reiterated the need to fully equip the officers dispatched to risky areas.
With the force having now been autonomised, the county MP called for the quick implementation of necessary changes key in gearing the police service on an upward trajectory.
“Even as they put their lives on the line, the office of the IG should ensure the officers are fully equipped and their insurance and housing issues sorted.”
Wilson Matasia, a reverend from the GSU headquarters condemned the inhuman act meted on Boniface and other victims describing it as cowardly.
He called on parents to be at the fore front in supporting and above all praying for their children as they go about their daily activities.
Muthii's burial came a day after his 22-year-old colleague Benson Brian Macharia who was also killed in the same attack was laid to rest in Kirinyaga Central on Friday.
