Launch remarks · 18 September 2024
It is an immense privilege to be with you at this meeting whose outcomes will open the door to many positive changes for the good of present and future generations. The sector represented here is not only essential for national security but also fundamental for the rule of law and public order and, therefore, a pillar of our constitutionalism and a foundation of prosperity.
I, therefore, address you at a critical turning point in our nation’s journey as we take the transformative step of reshaping our National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service into bastions of integrity and efficiency that Kenyans want, have struggled for and deserve. When I talk about transformation, I do not merely refer to a major improvement, but a rebirth which will necessitate a fundamental redefinition of how our security services operate and interact with the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.
In keeping with our undertaking under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, we embarked on this path in December 2022 by commissioning the National Taskforce on the Improvement of the Terms and Conditions of Service for Members of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and the National Youth Service, commonly known as the Maraga Taskforce. It was mandated to investigate the systemic institutional challenges hampering our security services and chart a new strategic pathway that promotes dignity and respect and improves the terms and conditions of service for our officers. This was done in the belief that it would complement other efforts to develop our security system into an efficient service guided by the ethos of citizen service and respect for the rule of law.
The findings of the task force revealed several issues, including obsolete policies and outdated practices, weak leadership, underfunding and, most concerning of all, rampant corruption and numerous forms of gross malpractices as well as poor human capital management, low pay, poor working and living conditions, inappropriate tools and equipment, and lack of support for welfare concerns. As a result, trust between the public and the security services, which is indispensable for national security and the rule of law, has been severely eroded.
Guided by the task force’s recommendations, the government has initiated a series of reforms, beginning with a 40% salary increase for the lowest ranks of the services, aimed at achieving a significant qualitative transformation of our nation's security services.
We appreciate the considerable financial implications of the full implementation of the changes prescribed by the Maraga Taskforce. It is estimated that it will cost us KSh106 billion to fully actualise these recommendations. Of this, Ksh22 billion will finance improvement in the compensation package for officers, while Ksh37 billion will go to upgrading of hardware as well as welfare reforms. Finally, Ksh45 billion is required to implement the modernisation of the services. To ensure that our commitment to overhaul these crucial institutions is accompanied by the necessary resources, the required funds will largely be provided by the Exchequer and various partners.
Without a doubt, the recommended reforms will also require comprehensive institutional changes, beginning with legislation. Consequently, we are undertaking sweeping reforms of existing laws and introducing new ones that will form the backbone of a revamped national security framework. The National Police Service Act, National Police Service Commission Act and several other foundational laws will be revised to align with contemporary needs and standards. New legislation, including the Kenya Correctional Services Bill and the National Forensic Science Laboratory Services Bill, will provide the necessary legal structures to support the changes we are implementing to modernise the security services and propel them to the highest standards of policing and best practice.
To provide for seamless, expeditious and effective progress in the task at hand, I make the following directives:
First, the institutional arrangements necessary for the implementation of reforms shall be facilitated by respective ministries, departments and agencies.
Any challenges encountered during the implementation phase shall be addressed and resolved without delay through the established mechanisms.
Further, I direct that the development of policies and legislative reforms must be inclusive and participatory.
It is also essential that the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service complete the development of their respective modernisation strategies and plans within 6 months. Accordingly, the National Treasury will make adequate provisions for funding to implement these reforms.
Beyond legislation, we are also drafting new policies and revising old ones in order to redefine our national security landscape and chart a path to the future that is fully aligned with our constitutional framework as well as aspirations as a nation. The Public Order Management Policy, Community Policing Policy and National Correctional Services Policy will not merely be the guide for our officers but will be the strategies aimed at ushering in a new era of community engagement and cooperation. These policies are designed to forge a strong partnership between our security services and the community by building trust and enhancing cooperation between the public and law enforcement agencies.
As we move forward with these reforms, I urge each one of you to fully come aboard, and join me in mobilising the people of Kenya to take part in this transformative journey. The success of these initiatives does not just depend on the actions of the government, but also on active participation and strong support from every segment of our society, from policy and strategic leadership to local community leaders, and from our brave men and women in uniform to the citizens they serve. Out of the realisation that everyone has a role to play, we shall employ an all-of-society approach to the implementation of the Strategic Framework.
Let us therefore work closely together and complement one another to create an environment where our police, prison and youth services are not only respected and trusted by the people but are also integral to the communities they serve. This is how we shall build a future where these institutions symbolise integrity and justice.
I take this opportunity to affirm my full commitment to oversee these reforms and ensure that they are implemented to achieve the transformation of our security services into models of public trust and efficiency. Together, we we have an opportunity to collaborate and make sure that these reforms go beyond mere changes in policy, and deliver meaningful improvements that will endure and inspire for generations to come.
If we do this together, present and future generations of Kenyans will experience, appreciate and celebrate the fruits of your commitment to the institution of sound, effective, professional and ethical national security institutions that will guarantee peace and security as the foundational enablers of Kenya’s economic transformation. Thank you. God bless you. God bless Kenya.