Matiang'i Issues New Directives to Police Commanders

CS Fred Matiang'i speaking during the launch of a manual of guidelines on election security management on Saturday February 5, 2022
CS Fred Matiang'i speaking during the launch of a manual of guidelines on election security management on Saturday, February 5, 2022
Ministry of Interior

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, has issued new directives to police commanders to guide their operations until the next government is in place.

According to the latest instructions to top law enforcement officers contained in the Election Security Management: Manual For Police Commanders released on Saturday, February 5, the police bosses will play an active role in the entire electoral process.

The manual will be a reference handbook for Police Commanders to ensure that police roles and responsibilities during elections are carried out in a professional and consistent manner.

CS Fred Matiang'i during the launch of a manual of guidelines on election security management on Saturday February 5, 2022
CS Fred Matiang'i during the launch of a manual of guidelines on election security management on Saturday, February 5, 2022
Ministry of Interior

Commanders in the latest designations will be required to attend regular peace and security meetings within their jurisdictions.

They will be required to deliberate and review matters involving election security.

Another task given to police commanders is to identify all the stakeholders within their jurisdictions and involve them in ensuring all election processes are carried out according to the law.

"Police Commanders at all levels should identify key stakeholders in their respective areas of command and attend stakeholders’ meetings to deliberate on election security matters," the manual stated.

"Police Commanders at all levels shall ensure that all election security personnel have a thorough knowledge of their election security duties through briefing and full details of such briefing shall be recorded in the Occurrence Book."

During the elections period, the Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, has been instructed, together with the Joint Service Board, to convene a security conference with all police commanders.

"Police Commanders shall generally collaborate with IEBC election officers during electioneering period to ensure that security challenges and threats that may compromise the elections are effectively and efficiently managed," the manual adds.

The top cops have also been tasked with ensuring close co-operation with representatives of National Cohesion and Integration

Commission in motoring public spaces and social media for hate related messages, reporting, and investigation.

Police officers who will be deployed to various polling stations will now be required to carry standard-type notebooks and pencils. In the notebook, they will be required to enter details of all incidents and any other material of evidential value that may be used instead of poll dispute.

Matiang'i also noted that specialised units like General Service Unit, Border Police Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit, Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, Criminal Intelligence Bureau play a major role in Election Security will be deployed in different parts of the country to work with commanders to ensure a smooth electoral process.

CS Fred Matiang'i during the launch of a manual of guidelines on election security management on Saturday February 5, 2022
CS Fred Matiang'i during the launch of a manual of guidelines on election security management on Saturday, February 5, 2022
Ministry of Interior