Cord leader Raila Odinga has asked the government
to devolve part of the police service to help end the terror attacks that have rocked the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, Raila said new threats demand collaborative, not spectator roles, by county governments.
"Devolving certain policing services ensures local front line services are accessible to communities throughout," he said.
"(This means)
focusing on problem-solving and getting communities involved in supporting local crime investigations."
Raila issued the remarks following an attack at a hotel in Mandera town that left 12 people dead.
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His sentiments were echoed by
ICPC executive director Ndung'u Wainaina, who said this constitutional change will strengthen community protection.
Wainaina said
any policing framework should support the flow of information and intelligence, supported by effective tasking and coordinating arrangements to ease relations among
communities, police units, national and international agencies.
He demanded the strengthening of county-based policing and law enforcement systems to effectively address local security challenges.
This should be informed by local dynamics so emergencies can be addressed quickly, he added.
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Regarding the al Shabaab attack, Wainaina said:
"This horrifying bloodletting in Kenya clearly provides an indisputable reason why a continued policy of the Nairobi-controlled National Police Service is terribly irrelevant in modern day Kenya."
The director
said county and national governments need to agree to transfer
functions and powers as stipulated in articles 183, 187 and 189
of the Constitution.
He noted this will result in a properly structured and coordinated framework between counties and the NPS to address security and policing concerns at county level.
"County policing and security authorities should be fully
operationalised
and strengthened under the chairmanship of the county governor," he said.
"The authority will review county-related security issues prioritised by the National Security Council and incorporate local public security concerns to make its decisions."
He noted this will enable close cooperation, coordination and consultation between with the objective of maximising the use of limited resources.