Be impartial, keep off politics - Ruto tells police

President William Ruto has asked the police not to take a political stance while discharging their duties.

Addressing the Regional Police Commanders at the State House on Wednesday, Ruto said they must serve Kenyans fairly, irrespective of their political or ethnic affiliation.

"We want the police to be professional, independent and accountable while protecting Kenyans," he said.

This was the first time Ruto met with the team since he was elected President.

The President said he had decided to make the police financially autonomous so that they can conduct their duties competently.

He added that the Kenya Kwanza administration will provide the Force with modern equipment to help confront insecurity in the country.

The meeting comes at a time when criminal cases have risen in Nairobi, with citizens getting mugged in broad daylight.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the deployment of specialised units from the GSU and RDU to eradicate surging crime at the CBD.

"Following the reorganisation of Nairobi County Security command, there are the deployment of additional specialised police units drawn from the General Service Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit," a statement said.

There has also been high rate of insecurity due to banditry in the North Rift parts.

Interior CS Kindiki Kithure on Monday said the ministry is privy to where the bandits have been retreating to and are out to dismantle them.

"The government is deploying multifaceted, multifront and multiagency response to the challenge and the problem of banditry," he said.

Other leaders at the meeting were DP Rigathi Gachagua, PCS Musalia Mudavadi, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and Defence CS Aden Duale.