By Dickens Wasonga
Kenyans should not doubt the capacity of the country’s police service to tackle crime especially in relations to improved technology in crime management, the new Director of Criminal Investigations Mr. Ndegwa Muhoro has said.
Mr. Ndegwa who met top police officers in Nyanza province in Kisumu during his familiarization tour of the region said advancement in technology was part of the police reform package as recommended in the retired Judge Philip Ransley’s report adding that the force now has a high caliber of personnel who are ready and better trained to tackle modern crime trends.
Ndegewa who was appointed recently to by president Mwai Kibaki to head the department said war against crime should not be left solely in the hands of police officers and called on members of the public to play their role by embracing community policing.
The CID boss noted that by giving timely and accurate information to the law enforcement officers members of the public can largely contribute in reducing crime levels by great margins.
He said the media should also work closely with the officers to boost efforts by the government to root out the vice especially in the urban areas where rates of crime is souring.
He said changes to make the force work better in crime management will be effected but added that they will be made in consultation with various stakeholders to ensure such changes do not cause panic amongst serving officers.
The CID director disclosed that he had met all the provincial and divisional police commanders including the PCIOs and DCIOs upon his appointment to the office find out how issues that impede security matters can be addressed.
”We are all talking with our officers at all levels to find out from them which areas needs facilitation and how would they wish to see various challenges they face while on duty tackled.” He said.
He also assured the officers that the police reforms which included extension of the training period for the new recruits and provision of equipment to the police service to be able to manage crime efficiently and effectively will be delivered.
” We are in modern times and we can no longer afford to combat crime in the traditional way. we have embraced technology and we will continue to up our game.” Said the director.
He will be in Kakamega tomorrow and then to the north Rift in the Rift Valley province in a tour of provinces which will see him meet all the top security officers through out the country to to map out strategies to combat crime together.