The government has finalised the acquisition of the first 1,000 e-vehicles to be used by the security personnel, President William Ruto has disclosed.
Ruto noted that the procurement of the vehicles is in line with the ongoing modernisation programme in the police service.
The government has set Sh20 billion in this financial year for the whole programme.
The vehicles, Ruto said, include those of the members of the National Government Administration and are part of the government’s response to the effects of climate change.
“Even as we improve on the mobility of our men and women, we are also responding to matters climate change and making sure that we are aligned with the requirements of e-mobility,” he said.
Speaking when he officially launched the Strategic Framework for Implementing Reforms in the police and prisons service and NYS, Ruto also stated that this will also include the two other services.
On implementation of the reforms by former Chief Justice David Maraga-led Taskforce, Ruto said they are going to employ a whole-of-society approach.
He said the success of the initiative does not just depend on the actions of the government but on active participation and strong support from every segment of the society.
This includes policy and strategic leadership to all community leaders and from security officers to citizens they serve.
“Out of the realisation that everyone has a role to play, we shall involve all stakeholders in the implementation of this strategic framework,” he said.
He affirmed his commitment to ensuring the reforms are realised to achieve the transformation of the security services into models of public trust and efficiency.
On the Affordable Housing Project (AHP), the president said 32, 000 houses for all security services including the military are currently under construction.
During the same event, Ruto announced plans to onboard the police service in the automation process of payment of instant fines at the police stations for accountability purposes.
According to the Head of State, the culture of dealing with cash must be stopped immediately noting the entire government would soon fully go cashless.
“I know there is resistance in some quarters but we will make sure that we can drive reforms and efficiency in this sector...we have leveraged on technology to make sure we have better outcomes in the management of our security,” he stated.
Ruto at the same time stated that there are current legislations before Parliament that have been proposed as part of the reform process.
He encouraged the implementing teams to expedite the formulation of the policies that have been worked on so as to engage Parliament in the shortest time possible.
