Politics and policy
In Summary
- Official data shows that the number of officers dropped to 39,215 last year compared to 42,145 in 2013 and 42,586 in 2012.
- Kenya’s police to civilians’ ratio last year stood at about 1:1,096, lagging behind the United Nation’s recommendation of one officer per 400 citizens which is considered critical for effective policing.
The number of Kenyan police officers has dropped to
an eight-year low due to resignations and retirements, further widening
the ratio of security officers to civilians amid growing insecurity.
Official data shows that the number of officers dropped to 39,215 last year compared to 42,145 in 2013 and 42,586 in 2012.
This is the lowest count since 2006 when it stood at 39, 072 despite the force recruiting offers nearly annually.
Kenya’s police to civilians’ ratio last year stood
at about 1:1,096, lagging behind the United Nation’s recommendation of
one officer per 400 citizens which is considered critical for effective
policing.
The shrinking number comes against the backdrop of
persistent deadly terrorist attacks that have claimed more than 400
lives since Mr Uhuru Kenyatta took over the presidency two years ago.
“This was mainly due to natural attrition and the
suspension of police recruitment during the year (2014),” says the
Economic Survey.
Last year, the National Assembly directed the
National Police Service Commission to suspend the recruitment of 10,000
new police after allegations of bribery, nepotism and favouritism
emerged.
The High Court in October quashed the hiring of the
recruits citing corruption, irregularities and violation of the
Constitution, effectively freezing replacement of the exiting officers.
But last month the police employer conducted a
fresh recruitment drive that saw 10,000 recruits start a nine-month
training at Kiganjo, Nyeri last week.
Out of the 39,215 police workforce, 34,129 are men and 5,086 women.
Al-Shabaab’s string of gun and bomb attacks weighed
heavily on the economy—which last year saw the tourism industry’s
earnings drop 7.3 per cent to Sh87.1 billion on reduced travel after
western governments issued travel alerts.
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