- Kindiki said such equipment will ensure Kenyans are protected from any harm that could come from criminal groups.
- He said that the new acquisition, which will take the total number of modern APCs received so far to 20, will help protect the officers on the frontlines.
Image: MINA
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki now says that the arrival of new modern security equipment in the country moves Kenya closer to achieving the vision of a safer country for her people.
Speaking on Tuesday when he received another batch of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers in Mombasa, Kindiki said such equipment will ensure Kenyans are protected from any harm from criminal groups.
The CS said that the realisation of durable peace, security and stability requires an accelerated and non-compromising posture on all threats to national security, to ensure rapid economic development driven by local and foreign investments.
Kindiki said that the new acquisition, which will take the total number of modern APCs received so far to 20, will help protect the officers on the frontlines.
He said the acquisition is part of the government’s 5-year Police Equipment Modernisation (PEM) program, which will come for Sh37 billion.
He said the government is very deliberate in ensuring the safety of officers on the frontlines battling bandits and other criminal gangs that threaten Kenya’s national security.
“The government intends to protect officers on the frontline to make sure that we first protect them from harm but also provide them with mobility. Some of the areas where our frontline officers are working are difficult terrain areas which cannot be accessed using the ordinary vehicle equipment we have,” Kindiki said.
“The first Sh7 billion have been spent and a few months ago we were able to commission about 10 APCs and today we are also receiving another 10 of a higher capacity version.”
The Interior CS noted that more equipment will be arriving soon as part of the orders the administration has already placed.
He added that the schedule for receiving this equipment is in place.
“We have also received in the last year other forms of equipment including arms and ammunitions and we also working to receive a little more of personal protective equipment as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) which are armoured and do not require personnel. They can do surveillance and can also attack.”
Kindiki is particularly happy with the assurances officers at the frontlines have been giving him every time he visits them.
“They have always reminded us to make it a little easier for them to inflict maximum pain on the people running criminal enterprises in our country in the form of terror groups, bandits and other organized criminal organisations,” the CS said.
Kindiki further noted that the country is in the process of having active and revitalized air assets equipment.
He stated that he can proudly say that the process of facilitating officers in the frontline is getting towards completion if not perfection.