The government intends to bolster country’s national security through massive slash of officers attached to VIP protection and be redeployed in operational duties, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said.
Currently, in excess of 11,000 police officers are attached as Close Quarter Protection Unit to VIPs including guarding their residences.
“Government to reduce the levels of VIP protection by 50 per cent by July this year so that the officers can be deployed to protect life and property of ordinary citizens, says Interior CS Dr. Matiang‘i.” Interior ministry director of communications said.
Matiang’i spoke while meeting a group of civil society members in a closed-door session at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Nairobi. Once the directive by Matiang’i is enforced, the political class will be most affected some of whom have sought VIP protection even for their spouses.
According to the Police Standing orders, those on guard duties must strictly adhere to the professional duties but more often than not, the dual authority from the VIP and the senior most cop the answer to always conflict. Those attached to public figures like politicians lament of long working hours and going home using public means.
At times, they find themselves in awkward situations where they have to cover VIPs’ clandestine relationships or risk being a double agent as a spy for the wife or husband. Normally, VIPs prefer handpicking their escort and guard officers well known to them who occasionally turn out to be trusted friends or relatives.
However, only the president and deputy president are accorded highly and best trained officers in escort and guard attached to the elite Recce Company, a special formation in the General Service Unit.
