Police bosses from other counties have been advised to benchmark in Machakos county on how best their officers can relate to the public.
National Police Service head of training and reforms Ibrahim Jilo Guyo said Machakos county police chiefs and those in the Athi River subcounty, in particular, had set the bar on police–public relationships.
Guyo is an Assistant Inspector General of police.
“The wonderful relationship between the police and public that is in this subcounty is something to be proud of. It’s something to be emulated by other counties and subcounties,” Guyo said.
He spoke during the Athi River subcounty administration police New Year party at the Athi River AP line in Machakos County on Saturday. More than 3, 000 people attended the event.
Guyo presided over the event attended by tens of senior officers drawn from various police units, local leaders, investors, administrators, and locals who included Nyumba Kumi and community policing members from Athi River subcounty. They ate, drank and danced together.
The senior officers from police headquarters were hosted by Machakos County CIPU commander Dennis Odero together with his Athi River subcounty counterpart Mohamed Nur.
“We have traversed several counties. But, the good relationship that I have witnessed in this county and specifically in the Athi River subcounty is on top-notch,” Guyo said.
He said through the relationship, all subcounty police commanders, OCSs, and DCI chiefs together with their officers had come to celebrate and work together as they interacted with the public, and their clients.
Guyo said the exemplary police–public relationship had helped in suppressing crime not only within the subcounty but the entire Machakos county and its neighbourhoods.
He said that had been made possible through increased intelligence information shared by the public to police officers voluntarily.
He lauded both Odero and Nur for working hand in hand with their juniors to organize the New Year party.
“As police officers, we didn’t have time to celebrate together with our families during the festive season. It is because of putting our job at the forefront and allowing the public to celebrate as we secured them together with their property,” Guyo said.
“Today, we appreciate it because you have all joined us to celebrate as we eat, drink and share information. Thanks to organisers especially subcounty CIPU commander Nur for bringing us together."
Nur maintained that they will continue creating a leeway for better relationships with the public as a way of getting information for action.
Guyo said he felt proud to be a member of the service that has the public interest at heart.
He said they will adhere to the Administration Police Service’s mantra ‘Askari ya Mashinani, Askari ya Mwananchi’ until they exit the service.
Guyo said they as a service, will continue serving the public diligently and according to the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
He urged all police officers across the country to serve with professionalism.
“Professionalism is inculcated in the manner we interact with citizens of this country. So, we emphasize peace, good relationships and diligence at work,” Guyo said.
On matters of police officers’ mental ill-health, Guyo said they were following serious protocols to help victims.
“The psychosocial support program has been entrenched in all our activities and counselling services are ongoing across the service. We thank the head of administration police Noor Gabow and Inspector General Japheth Koome for easing officers’ work through programs such as guidance and counseling,” Guyo said.
Guyo said all police officers across the country are covered in comprehensive medical cover, both group and medical cover.
“The government has put the programmes to enable our officers’ work easy. They have been covered together with their spouses and children,” Guyo said.
He said the government is determined to ensure that officers enjoy the fruits of their labour as they work under favourable terms and conditions hence the proposed police reforms.
“All these are emphasized in areas of reforms. We thank the president for instituting the workforce that looks into terms and conditions of the service led by retired Justice David Maraga,” Guyo said.
Guyo said the government had started implementing the task force’s report in police officers’ best interests.
He said the reforms included various areas including remuneration, housing, medical, training, promotions and transfers all covered in the report.
Guyo urged the public to continue volunteering information to police stating that it won’t leak exposing them to danger.
