By Ebi Kesiena
President William Ruto has said the government is equipping the National Police Service to boost its ability to protect lives and property.
Speaking on Thursday during the official opening of the Border Police Hospital, at Kanyonyoo in Kitui, Ruto said the government was pursuing a raft of reforms to build the capacity of the service.
“We shall sustain the momentum we have started this process with and ensure we complete the turn-around of the National Police Service for the benefit of all Kenyans,” he said.
He acknowledged the establishment of a police reform taskforce, an insurance cover for officers and the transfer of full financial autonomy for the police, as the key initiatives that have already been implemented.
Ruto said the hospital, a 130-bed Level 4 facility, will offer specialised medical services, including critical care, to police officers, their families and the public.
The services include outpatient, infant, mental and rehabilitative services, maternity, laboratory, pharmaceutical, dental health, critical care, and surgical and mortuary.
The facility will also offer counselling services to the police.
“This project demonstrates that we are willing to take measures to rehabilitate those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder as well as on-duty trauma,” he added.
He was accompanied by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, Tourism CS Peninah Malonza, National Police Inspector General Japhet Koome, and Governors Julius Malombe (Kitui) and Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok).
