Post by Onyango Oloo on Nov 13, 2012 17:44:04 GMT 3
13th November 2012
PRESS STATEMENT
TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES
Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG)
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATING INSECURITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE KILLINGS OF POLICE OFFICERS BY CIVILIANS
We, the civil society organizations under the auspices of the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG) wish to send our deepest and sincerest condolences to the families, relatives, friends and colleagues of over the brutal murders of 37 police officers who were killed on Saturday November 10th 2012 in Baragoi following a botched operation to recover livestock. It is indeed sad that the officers who were responding to the call of national duty can lose their lives in this manner. In this regard we commit to provide counselling support to families and relatives who will be reporting to police headquarters and Harambee house this week to receive briefings about their fallen relatives.
.
As Civil society organizations, we further wish to draw the attention of the public and the Government of Kenya to the recent and alarming rise in the number of killings targeting members of Kenya police as well as other security support teams such as the KPR/home-guards. Indeed, in the last two months or so Kenya has lost over 50 police officers most of who are stationed in the so-called in marginalized areas of Samburu, the Tana Delta and Garissa as well as in urban cities in Mombasa and Nairobi. All these officers were killed while undertaking the difficult task of providing national security, particularly in the areas of dealing with terror threats in the country, banditry attacks, robberies, and the perennial cattle rustling menace.
We take this opportunity to wish the police officers undergoing medical treatment in various health facilities in the country a quick and full recovery so that they may continue serving this nation diligently.
Members of the police reforms working group wish to state the following:
1. The vulnerability that the Police suffer as evidenced in their recent maiming and killings is a matter of national concern and indeed a threat to our national security. As members of the police reform working group, we wish to categorically state that this trend is unacceptable and must be urgently addressed by the President Hon. Mwai Kibaki and The Prime Minister Hon Raila Odinga.
2. There is an urgent need critical for a critical review of the linkages and protocols between the National Police Service and the National Intelligence Service as well as the linkages and protocols between the security agents within the community security teams including the Provincial Administration and Police Reserves. Indeed, the way our officers have been killed and maimed, which has largely involved gang-land style ambushes and attacks, indicates that there is a gap in terms of intelligence gathering on the situation on the ground, which has in turn led to poor levels of preparedness in responding to security situations on the ground.
3. There is a need for a critical evaluation of the police training curriculum as regards skills, knowledge, tactics and techniques. In this regard, what is germane is to question whether the training for example takes into cognizance the realities of marginalized areas as well as considerations of the influx of small arms and lethal weapons through our porous boarders. Which then raises the question: Are the personnel deployed in the marginalized and resource-poor settings areas such as Samburu well equipped to deal with the unique challenges such as cattle rustling and difficult terrain in that area? What kind of logistical support is offered to the police who work in these areas and is that support both sufficient and relevant?
4. There is a need for accountability on the part of government on the current status of the disarmament programmes in pastoralists areas. The current modus operandi of disarming also needs further interrogation so that the following questions are answered. a) What programmes are in place to deal with the infiltration of small arms and lethal weapons in the country? (b) What is the arms supply chain? (c) What hinders the government from actually arresting the issue of infiltration of these arms?
As members of the police reforms working group we demand the following:
1. The National Police Service Commission develops a framework for implementation of police welfare issues as identified by both the Kriegler Commission and the Philip Ransley Task Force. At the minimum, police officers should be well facilitated and insured as part of the welfare package.
2. That the National Police Service responds decisively and effectively to curb this emerging threat to national security; where civilians attack and kill police officers on duty. This way, the police service will restore confidence among the citizenry that it is in control and can assure security especially as we approach the next general elections. However such decisive action aimed at bringing perpetrators to book and normalizing the situation must be carried out within the confines of the human rights framework.
3. Enhanced accountability of those charged with intelligence and we demand to know why there seems to be a dis-connect between the intelligence services, the police and other agents and institutions critical in the provision of security in this country.
4. We demand that the NPSC and other relevant government bodies provide a ‘safe’ mechanism for serving police officers and even members of the public to submit information on the causes of insecurity more so as political campaigns intensify and as we approach the general elections. This is critical if we are to avoid the insecurity breaches that have been seen in the Tana Delta and other parts of the country.
5. The National Police Service Commission in conjunction with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority institutes Independent and professional investigation on how a large number of police officers sent to the “battle front” can be killed, yet they are supposed to be well prepared and equipped to deal with the various security challenges that Kenya as a country is grappling with .
6. The immediate stepping aside of the Police Commissioner, the Provincial Police Officer and the Officer Commanding the forces in Baragoi to allow for independent investigations over this matter.
Finally the police reforms working group wishes to remind Kenyans that as we enjoy the various rights enshrined in the constitution, we must work together as a nation to deal with the issues of rising insecurity in the country. Yes we have rights, but we also have responsibilities both to ourselves and also to our fellow citizens. We must operate within the confines of the law and it’s also important to cooperate with the police who have a constitutional mandate to protect us at all times.
PRESS STATEMENT
TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES
Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG)
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATING INSECURITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE KILLINGS OF POLICE OFFICERS BY CIVILIANS
We, the civil society organizations under the auspices of the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG) wish to send our deepest and sincerest condolences to the families, relatives, friends and colleagues of over the brutal murders of 37 police officers who were killed on Saturday November 10th 2012 in Baragoi following a botched operation to recover livestock. It is indeed sad that the officers who were responding to the call of national duty can lose their lives in this manner. In this regard we commit to provide counselling support to families and relatives who will be reporting to police headquarters and Harambee house this week to receive briefings about their fallen relatives.
.
As Civil society organizations, we further wish to draw the attention of the public and the Government of Kenya to the recent and alarming rise in the number of killings targeting members of Kenya police as well as other security support teams such as the KPR/home-guards. Indeed, in the last two months or so Kenya has lost over 50 police officers most of who are stationed in the so-called in marginalized areas of Samburu, the Tana Delta and Garissa as well as in urban cities in Mombasa and Nairobi. All these officers were killed while undertaking the difficult task of providing national security, particularly in the areas of dealing with terror threats in the country, banditry attacks, robberies, and the perennial cattle rustling menace.
We take this opportunity to wish the police officers undergoing medical treatment in various health facilities in the country a quick and full recovery so that they may continue serving this nation diligently.
Members of the police reforms working group wish to state the following:
1. The vulnerability that the Police suffer as evidenced in their recent maiming and killings is a matter of national concern and indeed a threat to our national security. As members of the police reform working group, we wish to categorically state that this trend is unacceptable and must be urgently addressed by the President Hon. Mwai Kibaki and The Prime Minister Hon Raila Odinga.
2. There is an urgent need critical for a critical review of the linkages and protocols between the National Police Service and the National Intelligence Service as well as the linkages and protocols between the security agents within the community security teams including the Provincial Administration and Police Reserves. Indeed, the way our officers have been killed and maimed, which has largely involved gang-land style ambushes and attacks, indicates that there is a gap in terms of intelligence gathering on the situation on the ground, which has in turn led to poor levels of preparedness in responding to security situations on the ground.
3. There is a need for a critical evaluation of the police training curriculum as regards skills, knowledge, tactics and techniques. In this regard, what is germane is to question whether the training for example takes into cognizance the realities of marginalized areas as well as considerations of the influx of small arms and lethal weapons through our porous boarders. Which then raises the question: Are the personnel deployed in the marginalized and resource-poor settings areas such as Samburu well equipped to deal with the unique challenges such as cattle rustling and difficult terrain in that area? What kind of logistical support is offered to the police who work in these areas and is that support both sufficient and relevant?
4. There is a need for accountability on the part of government on the current status of the disarmament programmes in pastoralists areas. The current modus operandi of disarming also needs further interrogation so that the following questions are answered. a) What programmes are in place to deal with the infiltration of small arms and lethal weapons in the country? (b) What is the arms supply chain? (c) What hinders the government from actually arresting the issue of infiltration of these arms?
As members of the police reforms working group we demand the following:
1. The National Police Service Commission develops a framework for implementation of police welfare issues as identified by both the Kriegler Commission and the Philip Ransley Task Force. At the minimum, police officers should be well facilitated and insured as part of the welfare package.
2. That the National Police Service responds decisively and effectively to curb this emerging threat to national security; where civilians attack and kill police officers on duty. This way, the police service will restore confidence among the citizenry that it is in control and can assure security especially as we approach the next general elections. However such decisive action aimed at bringing perpetrators to book and normalizing the situation must be carried out within the confines of the human rights framework.
3. Enhanced accountability of those charged with intelligence and we demand to know why there seems to be a dis-connect between the intelligence services, the police and other agents and institutions critical in the provision of security in this country.
4. We demand that the NPSC and other relevant government bodies provide a ‘safe’ mechanism for serving police officers and even members of the public to submit information on the causes of insecurity more so as political campaigns intensify and as we approach the general elections. This is critical if we are to avoid the insecurity breaches that have been seen in the Tana Delta and other parts of the country.
5. The National Police Service Commission in conjunction with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority institutes Independent and professional investigation on how a large number of police officers sent to the “battle front” can be killed, yet they are supposed to be well prepared and equipped to deal with the various security challenges that Kenya as a country is grappling with .
6. The immediate stepping aside of the Police Commissioner, the Provincial Police Officer and the Officer Commanding the forces in Baragoi to allow for independent investigations over this matter.
Finally the police reforms working group wishes to remind Kenyans that as we enjoy the various rights enshrined in the constitution, we must work together as a nation to deal with the issues of rising insecurity in the country. Yes we have rights, but we also have responsibilities both to ourselves and also to our fellow citizens. We must operate within the confines of the law and it’s also important to cooperate with the police who have a constitutional mandate to protect us at all times.