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Ongatai Rongai, May 27, 2006

President Mwai Kibaki accompanied by Prof George Saitoti and Hon Gedieon Konchella greets wananchi who lined up at Ngong town, Kajiado, during a meet the people tour of Dsitrict.

It's an all war against crime, says President Kibaki

President Mwai Kibaki today said the Government has declared an all out war against crime and urged wananchi to co-operate with the police by exposing criminals.

He assured Kenyans that Government is committed to strengthening the capacity of the Police force to ensure a safe and secure environment for all citizens and thanked wananchi throughout the country for embracing Community Policing.

"It is notable that Community Policing has been initiated in nearly all locations and sub-locations. As we move into the future, we must seek to transform this crime prevention strategy into a way of life," the President said.

President Kibaki was speaking at Ongata Rongai Police station in Kajiado district where he presided over celebrations to mark the first anniversary of the community Policing programme.

He said the 2nd anniversary of the launch of the Community Policing Programme is further testimony that the Government will not be relenting in its efforts to rid the society of criminal elements.

"I am therefore putting all criminals on notice that we will pursue them, apprehend them and jail them. The only choice open for them is to abide by the law and earn a decent living through honest hard work like other Kenyans," President Kibaki said.

In this connection, President Kibaki directed the police to be firm on criminals and idlers, particularly in urban and sub-urban areas where they have formed gangs to mug, extort and harass innocent Kenyans.

He emphasized that the police will be closely monitoring those who idle in market places with the intention of robbing others of their hard won money.

"I want hard working Kenyans to enjoy their sleep and their incomes," the Head of State said.

The President, once again, urged wananchi to work together with the police, saying strong police and public partnerships will make Kenya a better and secure home for all.

He noted that community policing meetings are enabling wananchi to deliberate and resolve other immediate challenges including socio-development and other issues affecting their general welfare and progress.

President Kibaki called on wananchi to continue building on the homegrown Community Policing model that addresses the needs, aspirations and concerns of Kenyans.

" It is encouraging to note that what started as an endeavour to address security concerns, is providing forums through which wananchi are able to discuss other pressing issues," the President said.

He pointed out that security and maintenance of the rule of law are vital ingredients and foundation for a vibrant democracy and economic development.

President Kibaki said Kenyans should, therefore, uphold the virtues and values of freedom, respect for the rule of law, tolerance and love for one another, saying those are core values that hold the nation together.

In this regard, the President encouraged wananchi to reject those who seek to live off the spoils of crime and embrace the culture of the rule of law, saying criminals and other lawbreakers go against the common good.

He said wananchi have a responsibility to co-operate and volunteer information and intelligence that will facilitate the police and other law enforcement agencies to apprehended potential criminals and lawbreakers before they commit crimes.

"We should aim at strengthening crime prevention in order to avoid spending valuable resources in pursuing those who have committed criminal acts. This is because once a crime has been committed, the injury caused can never be undone," President Kibaki said.
The Head of State warned that the culture whereby some people thrive on proceeds of crime and other unethical practices should not be tolerated in the society.

He said as a working nation there should be total dedication of all peoples' energies, efforts and hard work to transparent economic activities with the assurance that their lives and property are safe.

In this context, President Kibaki said community policing must be viewed as a strategy that promotes the rule of law.

He commended the police, the provincial administration and entire security system down to the grassroots for relentlessly being in the forefront in fighting crime, saying Kenyans are now seeing significant reduction in incidences of violent crimes.

Said the President: "I expect this trend to continue as more resources are availed to law enforcement agencies and as various reforms are implemented in this sector."

The President disclosed that in addition to improving police salaries, the Government is also enhancing allowances and actively addressing the problem of inadequate and poor housing conditions for the police.

He expressed satisfaction that a number of stalled police housing projects in Nairobi, Ongata Rongai, Kapsabet, Eldama Ravine and other parts of the country have been completed.

President Kibaki added that the Government is also implementing new police housing projects in Nairobi and other urban areas and improving other amenities as part of the ongoing police reforms.

"This will enhance morale, confidence and effectiveness of our modernising police services," the Head of State said.

In addition, President Kibaki said the Government will continue to recruit more policemen and women in order to increase the police-to-population ratio.

He said the National Crime Research Centre under the office of the Attorney General will also be revived and equipped to provide inter-agency professional inputs.

The President observed that the revival of the research centre will enhance effectiveness of crime prevention efforts and facilitate specialized approaches to anti-social behaviours as crime challenges become more complex.

"When this Government came to power, we pledged to transform Kenya into a secure environment where business and investments can thrive," the President said.

On youth development, President Kibaki said the Government will continue to develop innovative programmes for the youth and commended those who are already engaged in productive ventures in the formal and informal sectors.

He, however, advised the youth to remain responsible, ethical and patriotic in order to avoid the pitfalls caused by drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.

The Head of State stressed that the various people-driven community policing forums should include the youth and women in their activities and programmes.

Saying community policing is sustained on trust, partnership and confidentiality, President Kibaki urged the police and other law enforcement officers to nurture and structure a proper environment for Community Policing to thrive.

"Accordingly, law enforcement officers must strive to be role models who are accountable and ethical," President Kibaki said and expressed satisfaction that these tenets have been factored in the Training Manuals for Police and Administrative Officers.

He directed that training in community policing should be mandatory for all administrative officers and police officers at all levels, adding that the curriculum should be harmonised so that individual officers and departments understand, interpret and practice community policing in the same way.
The President further said wananchi should also be trained on community policing so as to avoid creating a culture of vigilante groups.

In this regard, President Kibaki said it would be helpful to develop a handbook on community policing to assist in training wananchi on this concept.

"The Handbook should also contain simple public safety and protective security tactics for the citizenry," the Head of State expounded.

He said in the first year of community policing, noting that the interim assessment reports indicate that security has improved and crime has reduced drastically where community policing is fully embraced by leaders and wananchi in partnership and teamwork with Law Enforcement Agencies.

The President observed that the police and chiefs are now benefiting from intelligence information being provided by members of the public on criminal activities that may be taking place in their neighbourhoods.

"As a result of this partnership, many illegal immigrants and firearms in urban areas and border towns have been apprehended and arrested," the President said.

Noting that here is increased mutual trust, partnership and transparency between the public and the police, the President said Community Policing has also assisted in the recovery of stolen livestock from cattle rustlers.

In this connection, President Kibaki appealed to all those holding illegal firearms to surrender them immediately.

The President assured peace loving-wananchi in the North Rift region and elsewhere in the country that the Government will not harass or intimidate any innocent, law-abiding citizen.

He said the ongoing targeted recovery of illegal arms is being supported by intelligence from wananchi themselves because they want to see an improvement in their lives.

"However, I wish to reiterate that the disarmament exercise will not expose communities to attacks from others," the Head of State reassured wananchi.

The Head of State added that the Government is working closely with the Government of Uganda in order to eliminate cross-border cattle rustling.

He said leaders in the affected areas should encourage their communities to reject outdated practices that undermine peace, development and cause indiscriminate loss of human lives.

Other speakers included Internal Security Minister John Michuki, Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, area MP Prof. George Saitoti, Rift Valley PC Hassan Noor Hassan and Ngong Community Policing Committee chairman Mr. Peter Kabati.

Later, President Kibaki made a meet-the-people tour of Kajiado district and greeted wananchi at Kiserian, Matasia, Ngong towns and at Maasai Girls School where he advised students to work hard in their studies in order to contribute effectively to nation building.