Interior and Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki on Thursday, November 17, announced changes in the operations of chiefs in their administrative functions.
Prof Kindiki who spoke during an impromptu visit to a chief’s office in Mtwapa, Kilifi County, noted that the government was considering placing five police officers under the command of each chief.
”We are working towards reorganizing ourselves between the administrative officers and the police to ensure every chief has police officers attached under them to enable them to enforce law and order effectively,” Kindiki stated.
Further, Kindiki announced that chiefs would, henceforth, be required to keep a daily register of services provided to members of the public.
The register will, according to Kindiki, be stored in drives to systematically track the activities of the administrators.
Kindiki also stated that chiefs would be required to share work plans through the dedicated drive.
The changes, Kindiki added, would help to foster professionalism in the operations of national administrative officers.
The statement by Prof Kindiki came amid concerns over heightened insecurity in different parts of the country.
Worth noting, President William Ruto promised to institute reforms in the Provincial Administration system by reviewing their terms of service.
In addition, the President promised a departure from the past trends where chiefs and other administrative officers were accused of playing politics hence compromising their independence.
The position was also asserted by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who reiterated that Ruto’s government would ensure the independence of chiefs and refrain from using them for political expediency.
“President William Ruto’s government has no intention to use you in its politics,” Gachgua noted during a function in Kirinyaga.
The functions of chiefs as outlined in the Chiefs Act include maintaining law and order in their jurisdictions. Further, the law also grants chiefs the power to arrest any person with an intention of committing a crime.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE