Under former President Daniel Moi’s rule, the all-powerful ‘chief’ is set to make a major comeback.
President William Ruto’s administration has announced plans to arm the administrators and place at least five police officers under their command, reverting to the pre-2010 constitutional era when the chiefs wielded enormous power.
More than 6,000 chiefs oversee the lowest administrative units across the country, implying that at least 30,000 police officers will be assigned to their offices.”At least five police officers will be assigned to each chief.”
“We want to make sure chiefs can enforce the law and articulate government policy,” said Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki during an impromptu visit to Mtwapa chief’s office in Kilifi.
The plan to arm and authorize National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) to conduct security field operations heralds a return to the Nyayo era, when powerful local administrators’ word was law.
CS Kindiki announced yesterday that all NGAOs will be given weapons “to ensure we deal with security threats once and for all.”
“The gun and any other weapon provided by the Kenyan government to an officer are to be used to protect Kenyans’ lives and property from criminals.” Use the weapon in accordance with the law and the Constitution, and the government will protect and defend you.”
Although chiefs helped reduce crime in their areas during the Moi regime, their excesses prompted the framers of the 2010 Constitution to recommend that the provincial administration be restructured “to accord with and respect the system of devolved government.”
