Military to Take Over Key Police Duty

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking during the Kenya Defence Forces Day in 2018
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking during the Kenya Defence Forces Day in 2018
File

Plans are underway to hand more power to the military under President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration. 

Sources privy to the plan detailed that the President is set to hand over a key police duty to the Kenya Air Force, with his confidence in the military discipline a key factor. 

Kenyatta also reportedly believes that the military is better suited at handling security matters. 

The government wants to hand over the management of state-owned aircraft to Kenya Air Force.

Inspector General of Police Hillary Nzioka Mutyambai address press after boarding a new 5Y-DIG helicopter at Wilson airport on May 3, 2019.
Inspector General of Police Hillary Nzioka Mutyambai address press after boarding a new 5Y-DIG helicopter at Wilson airport on May 3, 2019.
File

The military will take over all planes owned by the Kenya Police, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), KenGen, Kenya Power, Ketraco and other parastatals. 

Reports allege that Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyamabai, discussed the plan with Kenya Air Force Commander Major General Francis Ogolla on Tuesday, September 22' at Wilson Airport.

"They are now awaiting an Executive Order to effect these planned changes. The military will take over the planes," an officer detailed the plan in an interview with the Standard. 

The National Police Service manages over 7 planes and has 21 pilots situated at the Wilson Airport. One of the planes is tasked to escort the President and his family. 

Sources added that Kenyatta is also keen on handing military key duties in the Ministry of Lands. 

These developments come a few days after the Kenya Defence Forces was ordered to take over the management of the Kenya Meat Commission

The Law Society of Kenya, however, moved to court to block the decision, arguing that the move was unconstitutional. Kandara MP Alice Wahome also sued the President for allowing General Mohamed Badi of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to attend Cabinet meetings. 

The formation of NMS to take over the administration of Nairobi County also triggered a nationwide debate on whether Kenyatta was militarising the country. 

"Slowly, the military will run the government," former Presidential aspirant Martha Karua criticised the Head of State. 

Nairobi Metropolitan Service Director General Mohammed Badi (Blue Berret) pictured at a construction site in Parklands, Nairobi. July 13, 2020.
Nairobi Metropolitan Service Director-General Mohammed Badi (Blue Berret) pictured at a construction site in Parklands, Nairobi. July 13, 2020.
Facebook