Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered the Inspector General of Police to move with speed and arrest criminals masquerading as security officers by wearing camouflage and other uniforms resembling those of security agencies.
Murkomen said the government would not allow individuals to exploit the image and authority of security officers to con Kenyans, provide illegal security services or cause chaos during political gatherings.
Speaking yesterday during the 11th Special Operations Group (SOG) graduation ceremony at Kamanga Training Camp in Samburu County, Murkomen said the misuse of security uniforms posed a threat to the integrity of the country’s security agencies.
“I have told the Inspector General of Police that he must move with speed and arrest all criminals who wear camouflage uniforms, pretending to be Special Operations Groups or police officers,” Murkomen said.
The CS said some individuals were using uniforms resembling those worn by security officers while providing what they described as security at political gatherings.
He warned that such individuals could in reality be goons seeking to exploit the authority associated with security uniforms.
“While in real sense they are goons wearing uniforms or jungle uniforms that look like those that are worn by our security officers,” he said.
Murkomen said the Government had a responsibility to protect the integrity of security officers and ensure their uniforms were not abused by criminals.
“We must protect the integrity of the security officers, including their uniform,” he said.
His remarks came as the Government graduated a new group of officers trained for specialised security operations amid growing concerns over terrorism, organised crime, banditry and other emerging threats.
Murkomen said Kenya’s security environment required specialised capabilities, intelligence-led operations, advanced technology and close coordination between security agencies.
He said the SOG had an important role in confronting violent extremism, disrupting organised criminal networks, combating cross-border threats and protecting critical national infrastructure.
The CS said no single security agency could effectively deal with modern security challenges on its own, praising cooperation between the National Intelligence Service, National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, National Government Administration Officers and other agencies.
“The successes we have recorded against terrorism, banditry, transnational crime, and other emerging threats have been made possible through close collaboration” among security agencies, Murkomen said.
He said the security of the country was also critical to the success of the Government’s development agenda, arguing that businesses, investors, farmers, tourists and other Kenyans could only prosper in a secure environment.
“The Government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda cannot succeed without peace and security,” he said.
Murkomen challenged the graduating officers to maintain high standards of professionalism, discipline and integrity as they take up their specialised roles.
He said the SOG had helped degrade terrorist and bandit networks and restore confidence in communities affected by insecurity.
The CS reaffirmed Government support for security agencies and urged the graduates to serve with courage and integrity.
