Matiang'i seeks help after damning report on his ministry

juma chrispinus

April 18, 2018 11:29 AM

Matiang'i has been forced to eat a humble pie.

Interior CS Dr Fred Matiangi is now turning to the Civil Society seeking help to reduce the levels of corruption in the police force after the damning Transparency International (TI) report.

Speaking at the first National Policing Conference at Kenya School of Government in Nairobi and making reference to a recent report by TI which painted the police force as an increasingly corrupt department in Kenya, Matiangi has urged the public to help fight graft at his Ministry.

The new demand to the public and the civil society comes on the heel of perceived bad blood between the police and the groups – Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), Amnesty International, Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG) and Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) – which have been at loggerheads over use of force against civilians.

"Sometimes we wake up and read reports in the press but never sit down to listen to our colleagues, reason with them and understand our reality and theirs,” said the CS.

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He added: "Strangely enough, no one goes back and looks at the lies told about the security sector. Even our colleagues in the civil societies don't go back and say 'we were told this but it was not true'."

The response by the CS was sparked by a series of accusations; majorly form the Civil Society Groups which accused the [police for using excessive force against civilians during the twin presidential elections in 2017.

The ugly confrontation between the police and the societies heated up The Cabinet Secretary noted that they were accused of "so many bad things" during the 2017 general elections.

"We were accused of every evil. To this very day investigations are being carried out. People pay attention to things when they are exaggerated and played up but don't look at the reality," he said.

"A gap has exited where we think others are enemies of others or suspect one another. There is no need to be suspicious. We in security are human and make mistakes. We are humble enough to say 'let us think of how to strengthen the sector and reduce the negative energy [that comes from] blame games."

Matiang'i noted CSOs are a critical part of Kenya's development so they must be accorded the respect they deserve.

He said that equally important is the need to hold talks and discuss ways to steer the country in the right direction.

"I am happy to engage with Amnesty and KNCHR on all the reports. That is how we will develop a strong country where we speak to one another and develop as one," he said.

"Let us work together. Police do a great job whether it rains or shines. We need to change our attitudes."

The CS he would like to see police present reports and statistics on crimes, complete with actions taken.

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