County governments want a role in the management of security to boost the war on crime.
Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya on Saturday accused the national government procrastinating in implementation of the County Policing Authority under the County Government Act of 2015 to take care of security.
“Time has come for governors to manage the security of their won counties since the police are abetting crime and can no longer be trusted,” Oparanya said.
Oparanya spoke a joint requiem mass for the six watchmen who were killed by a gang at Kilingili market on March 3.
He said that governors want to play a greater role in enhancing security and combating crime within the devolved units since they had more knowledge on issues in their counties.
Oparanya said counties will be willing to share the cost of security with the national government.
“As county governments, we will provide half of the funds to manage security matters in our county and the balance to come from the national government,” he said.
Vihiga Governor Wilbur Ottichilo urged Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to engage governors and agree on how they can be involved in the management of security at the county level.
“We don’t know why the national government is against the policy that was formulated by the Senate in 2015, which gave the leeway to manage security matters at the county level. Security is not a matter of one government, as it affects us all,” Ottichilo said.
He said governors are not seeking to usurp the national government’s role in the provision of security services, noting that Kenya should follow other countries that have devolved security such as India, Canada and the United States.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said governors’ hands were tied in security management in their respective counties since county security committee are chaired by county commissioners.
“We donated security matters (social contract) to the national government but it has failed hence need to protect ourselves,” Wetang’ula said.
