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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said the creation of the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) is aimed at fostering stronger collaboration between police officers, chiefs and local communities.
Speaking in Embu during the Jukwaa La Usalama forum, Murkomen dismissed fears that the deployment of police officers to work alongside chiefs could signal a return to oppressive practices.
“When we say we want to strengthen our National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) at the grassroots, it is to make the institution more people-centred,” Murkomen said.
“I’ve seen concerns from some quarters suggesting that a closer working relationship between police and NGAO could lead to a season of terror. I believe those are fears rooted in the past constitutional order.”
He emphasised that under the current legal framework, no government official, including ministers, MPs, the president, or the police, can harass or oppress citizens without facing legal consequences.
“The level of accountability we have today ensures that no one is above the law,” he added.
Murkomen noted that the establishment of NGAPU is part of a broader plan to enhance coordination among government officers, especially at the grassroots, to improve service delivery and law enforcement.
He challenged both police officers and chiefs to work closely with the communities they serve, saying that such partnerships would not only improve security but also boost public trust in state institutions.
“When we talk about integrating police into the administrative framework, it’s not about intimidation. It’s about building trust and cooperation between administrators, the police, and the people, because these institutions belong to them. They fund them through their taxes,” he said.
He also highlighted efforts to involve communities in security planning through structures such as the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF), private sector partnerships and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure.
“Our goal is to demystify the security sector and make it more accessible and accountable. If there’s one thing I’d love to see in this country, it’s people-centred police stations, places where Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs) are well integrated into the communities they serve.”
Jukwaa La Usalama, the forum Murkomen was addressing, is a government-led initiative designed to create dialogue between public officers and communities.
The CS said the platform allows for sharing policies, receiving feedback and strengthening relationships between the government and citizens.
“This is the twelfth county we’ve engaged through this forum. We’ve started to consolidate and identify common issues affecting different regions,” he noted.
Among the challenges highlighted in Embu County were rising cases of family disputes and land conflicts, some of which have turned fatal.
“During our security briefing, we identified murder, particularly among family members due to land and inheritance disputes, as a key challenge. The proliferation of illicit brews also remains a major concern,” Murkomen said.
