Uhuru Issues Ultimatum to CS Matiang'i Over Bribery [VIDEO]

President Uhuru Kenyatta (Right) strolls at State House with Interior CS Fred Matiang'i during a past event.
President Uhuru Kenyatta (Right) strolls at State House with Interior CS Fred Matiang'i during a past event.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, August 3, issued an ultimatum to Interior CS Fred Matiang'i over instant fines for minor offenders.

Speaking at Kamukunji Sub-County Police Headquarters during the launch of the Digital Occurrence Book popularly known as the OB, the CS disclosed that the president had asked him to ensure that payment of fines via M-PESA was functional before Christmas.

He was given the order in the company of ICT CS Joe Mucheru.

"We have just been instructed by the President this morning to make sure that after this launch we are moving on to the instant fines before Christmas.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho pictured with Police Inspector-General Hillary Mutyambai in Mombasa on March 15, 2020
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho pictured with Police Inspector-General Hillary Mutyambai in Mombasa on March 15, 2020
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"We will be taking information, ask people to pay fines on M-PESA and then we send them receipts," he stated.

To that end, he convened a meeting between himself, Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and his two Principal Secretaries including Karanja Kibicho to address the new deadline.

"We must now stop talking about that instant fines thing and make it happen so that we can save our people.

"We dont want to revert to old ways in which people are deliberately inconvenienced so that they can bribe," continued the CS illustrating a tactic in which officers threaten to jail offenders coercing them to give a bribe. 

During the launch, the CS also warned police officers to brace themselves for the change since their seniors would be able to track and reports delay.

"We are going to review the basis of police promotions. Why should an OCS of a police station with so many cases that are not concluded be promoted?

"This system will also be the basis upon which we will follow up on our KPIs especially for general duty officers," he added.

Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, in a statement, noted that the digital OB would ensure that once records are entered, they become permanent without the ability of being altered.

The first phase of the Digital OB began with Nairobi, with the rollout in the rest of the country expected to follow soon after. 

“Kenyans now do not need to reach the police station for booking. It can be done in the field and reported at the station for quick action.

“210 desktops have been installed in police stations while 10,181 iPads have been issued to police officers in Nairobi," Mutyambai explained.

Once a report is made, members of the public will also receive a copy of their report via SMS or e-mail.

Below is the video:

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