The County Government of Nairobi is set to hire 500 inspectorate officers to boost the department which is grappling with an acute shortage of workers.
City Hall announced on Tuesday, October 12, that it had set aside Ksh180 million as the budget for the recruitment of the new inspectorate officers popularly known as 'kanjo'.
According to a communication from City Hall, the county will hire the officers in phases as the administration endeavours to have enough officers to deal with hawkers, parking boys, muggers and petty offenders.
Notably, the Nairobi County leadership will be looking to spend Ksh58 million on capacity building for the officers by rolling out training programmes.
“A total of 500 new officers will be recruited in the next financial year as the county looks at having the required workforce aimed at improved service delivery and prompt response,” read a part of a financial report from City Hall.
According to the Nairobi County Annual Development Plan for the financial year ending on June 30, 2023, the county government will also build a Ksh200 million modern training facility for county inspectorate officers.
City Hall will also spend Ksh100 million to purchase uniforms for 1,000 lower-cadre new recruits in phases.
Acting Governor Ann Kananu’s administration signed a partnership with the National Police Service (NPS) to train more than 1,000 of its inspectorate officers.
The officers will be trained at the Kiganjo Police Training College and the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi.
Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director of enforcement services Mark Leleruk said the training targets a friendly enforcement service.
“We want to introduce a new culture of integrity and professionalism with career courses like non-commissioned officers and development courses for corporals and sergeants,” Leleruk stated.
“We intend to build the capacity of our staff through rolling out training programmes, as well as ensure a proper succession plan. We intend to rebrand and get rid of the culture associated with corruption and brutality, especially when dealing with hawkers,” he added.
