Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 9-Chief Justice Martha Koome has called on officials of the national task force on police and prisons Reforms to work towards democratizing policing in the country.
Speaking when he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the 20-member task force that will be chaired by retired Chief Justice David Maraga, Koome said that the recommendations from the task force will play a crucial role in the effective service delivery of the NPS and KPS.
CJ Koome stated that the criminal justice system cannot function effectively unless men and women in uniform are motivated and provided with a conducive environment to execute their mandate.
“I urge the Taskforce to work towards the realisation of the constitutional dream of democratic policing and a prisons service that pursues the constitutional goal of “reformation and rehabilitation of offenders,” he said.
She noted that the Kenyan dream is for a police service and prisons service that serves the people and upholds professionalism while serving Kenyans.
On his part, former CJ Maraga said the task force will hit the ground running to ensure they deliver o the tasks assigned to them.
Maraga noted that the journey of reforms within the police service and prison service began way back adding that the task force will be looking to improve on them.
“We are aware of the amount of work that has been done in this area. We are not going to reinvent the wheel, instead what we are going to do is to review those reports and take up whatever recommendations that have not been implemented and harmonize them,” he said.
The appointment of the taskforce seeks to seal the existing gaps within the operations of the police service and better the working conditions of security personnel.
Maraga will be deputized by Carole Kariuki in the task force that is mandated with identifying the legal, policy, administrative, institutional, and operational constraints on effective service delivery by the NPS and KPS and reviewing and recommending improvement of the terms and conditions of service.
Former Principal Administrative Secretary Moffat Kangi, John Ole Moyaki, Ibrahim Jillo Guyo, Richard Kirundi, Elizabeth Mueni, and Roseline Odede will be part of the task force.
Others include; Joash Odhiambo Dache, Doreen Muthaura, Albert Mwenda, Terry Chebet Maina, Hassan Sheikh Mohamed, Capt. (Rtd.) Simiyu Werunga, Mutuma Ruteere , Anne Ireri, Stephen Kayongo, Jafaar Mohamed, Sammy Chepkwony and Khadija Mire.
Omwanza Ombati, Joy Mdivo Masinde, and Rosemary Kamau will serve as joint secretaries of the task force.
The Maraga-led task force is also tasked with reviewing and recommending improvement of matters relating to the welfare of officers in all cadres of the NPS and KPS and all other matters incidental to the optimal service delivery of the service.
