Business Daily
Date: 28.04.2015
Page 11
Article size: 212 cm2
ColumnCM: 47.11
AVE: 89511.11
Why security remains a national government function
T^ie Constitution provides for
ministration police under their
two levels of government
­ the national government
and 47 county governments. It
also clearly outlines the functions
of each levels of government in the
Fourth Schedule. The national gov­
ernmenthas already devolved over
90 per cent of the devolved func­
Security as a function should
be aunitingfactorforall Kenyans.
PuttingtheAdministrationPolice
under governors is akin to creat­
ing tribal armies which is a threat
to our unity and national security.
tions and resources to the county
I would also like to give the
command.
This should never be allowed.
governments.
governors free advice, instead
However, it looks like the county of wasting time fighting over na­
governments are not satisfied with tional government functions, they
their constitutional functions. They would rather concentrate on their
have been shouting on the top of functions.
their voices to have some national
Their in­trays are full, our health
government functions such as services are in shambles, ourECD
security, education and environ­ infrastructure is still poor, most
ment devolved to the county gov­ Kenyans have no access to clean
ernments.
water, our agricultural sector needs
This is outrageous especially reshaping and so.. .this calls for the
given that these governors have governors' attention.
failed to effectively deliver their
Kenyans want to see governors
own functions as outlined in the
transforming counties bycarrying
constitution.
out their constitutional mandates
Security is a national govern­ and not fighting for the national
ment function and it should remain government functions.
as such. Kenyans overwhelmingly
Lastly, governors should
ratified the constitution with full
know that they are not a panacea
knowledge that this function was to Kenyan problems. They are at
under the national government loggerheads with MPs, senators,
This was for a simple reason, that the county assemblies and the na­
Kenya is not a federal state but a tional government
If the governors want to take
unitary state with devolved units.
The government cannot afford over all the national government's
to fragment this country by creat­ functions, then why do we have the
ing a police service whose loyalty national government? They want
is divided between the national to take over power through the
government and the county gov­ backdoor!
LAIRUKASINDANLWhii
ernments.
Like all other responsible citi­
zens, governors should share with
security agencies any information
that is crucial to the security of this
country.
Therefore, governors should
stop misleading Kenyans that
they can only contribute to the
improvement of this country's
security by being chairmen ofthe
county security and intelligence
committees and placing the Ad­
Villagers protest against attacks by a criminal gang, file
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya