• Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security
• Mr. Francis Kimemia, Permanent Secretary, Provincial Administration and Internal Security
• Mr. Kinuthia Mbugua, Administration Police Commandant
• Provincial Commissioners,
• Senior Police Officers Present,

Ladies and gentleman,

Good morning,

Today's gathering is a part of the greater policing reforms effort. This workshop is part of the greater government effort to implement all the reforms necessary to make the police more effective in law enforcement and service delivery.

One of the most important aspects of police reforms is community policing. Whereas a lot has been done to implement this policy, we have found it necessary to hold this workshop so that we can identify the challenges, share our experiences and come up with a strategy that will revamp and give community policing a new momentum.

Since I took over as the Commissioner of Police, several organizations, groups and individuals have expressed their concern over their safety. This underscores the need for all of us to look for new ways of doing our duty so that we can restore confidence in the entire internal security machinery.

Hon minister Sir, I have been in the field and I appreciate that some limitations are beyond our control. We are also aware that the government is taking a number of concrete measures to address this.

But as these efforts by the government go on, the pertinent question to ask is: can we do better? Have we exhausted all the avenues to be more proactive by interacting more effectively with the communities we serve? Research has shown that a higher index of security, law and order is achieved when the community is actively engaged in law enforcement.

During my visits to police stations, I noted that several reported cases are pending under investigation. After a closer perusal, one realizes that these cases are pending because of lack of evidence to prosecute. Secondly, a significant number of the offences occur under circumstances where members of public would obviously be competent witnesses. However, as we stand now, very few members of public are willing to offer their evidence because of mistrust.

The upshot of this is that criminals responsible for these offences are walking around with impunity and making our work even more difficult.

Since community policing was officially launched in 2005, we have implemented the strategy with varying degrees of success. Let us utilize this opportunity to take it a step further by sharing our experiences and coming up with a strategy that optimizes the strengths of all the three agencies.

As we deliberate on the re-engineering of the community policing strategy, it is important to remember that the prime duty of security agencies is promoting the rule of law and the universal enjoyment of human rights.

When you hear a Kenyan telling you that he has hired an additional watchman, when you read the harrowing experience of a victim of kidnap, when you hear that cattle rustlers have killed so many: always remember that fundamental human rights have been violated.

As law enforcement agencies, we should demonstrate that we are here to defend human rights for all. Once the public recognizes us as the defenders of their rights, they will open up and play their rightful role in community policing.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This is a forum to acknowledge the security challenges we have, and lay strategies for mobilizing communities to join us in overcoming them.

Honorable Minister Sir,

Allow me this opportunity to assure you that the people congregating here today have the solution to the reduction in crime. I believe I will be talking for everybody if I said that in this congregation lies the solution to management of crime in the republic.

In front of you are all the Provincial Security Committees in the Republic. When you seek solutions to internal security, whether it is criminal gangs, cattle rustling or mugging; look no further. The solution lies here.

Thank you and God bless you.

(MATHEW K. ITEERE) CBS, OGW.,

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE