President Uhuru Kenyatta directs recruitment of 10,000 police officers

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the recruitment of 10,000 police officers to enable the country achieve the recommended minimum police-to-population ratio.

He was speaking during the passing-out parade of 1,976 General Service Unit in Embakasi and said the role of security forces was to ensure criminals have no place in the country.

Kenyatta said the irony of insecurity was that, what was built through years of painstaking effort, can be destroyed by reckless and rogue criminals in a short time.

According to him, the stability and progress of the nation depend on how police confront criminals and the integrity and impartiality of law enforcing officers.

“History will judge this police service by its response to these issues, and by the degree of its integrity, its impartiality and its fidelity to the law as it deals with them,” the President said.

The National Police Service Commission is preparing for the exercise and plans are that, the recruits will graduate by February next year.

I have therefore issued directives for the recruitment of a new batch of 10,000 police officers. pic.twitter.com/OTDenOw13A

— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) March 1, 2016

The President urged police officers to dedicate themselves to protecting the country and assured that the government will continue investing in them.

The move will however stretch police housing, which is already strained.

He also said more will be done to improve police welfare and reiterated his commitment to securing the country.

“My administration continues to work diligently to ensure that you are effectively equipped to carry out your mandate, and to protect you, even as you protect Kenyans,” the President said.