President Uhuru Kenyatta has unveiled 500 police vehicles in the third phase of the police vehicle leasing programme. The President said when his administration took over, there were various security challenges, including terrorism, and a lack of sufficient transport within the National Police Service, “The service had only 3,155 vehicles nationwide, most of which were in a state of disrepair,” he said, “This state of affairs meant that police officers couldn’t effectively execute the mandate of keeping the country secure.”
President Uhuru Kenyatta outlined that the commissioning of vehicles from the first phase to the current third phase will enable officers to respond faster to stress calls and Kenyans will feel safer with an increased security presence, adding that at the moment 2,720 vehicles have been delivered under the programme.
The government has procured 30 armoured personnel carriers, 25 mine-resistant Armoured personnel carriers, “We are making these investments in a move to fulfil the promise by my administration to deliver a safe and tranquil environment,” said President Kenyatta. He also pointed out that at the moment there are three serviceable helicopters, given that there was only one in 2013, “We intend to build a fleet to seven by July 2017,” he added. The number of officers has also been increased to 98,732 officers, from 78,885 in 2013, and the President said the ratio bodes well with the required UN ration when it comes to personnel to civilian population ratio.