Bill seeks to regulate number of VIP guards

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By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Tuesday, September 18  2012 at  20:13

IN SUMMARY

• The Constitutional Office Holders (Security) Bill, 2012 sponsored by Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchella proposes that each constitutional office holder be entitled to not more than two armed security officers during and after their terms in office.
• Currently, VIPs ranging from Cabinet ministers, MPs and constitutional office holders such as the Attorney General, National Assembly Speaker, the Chief Justice to judges enjoy round the clock police protection with some having up to five security officers assigned to them.
• Selected VIPs, including the Prime Minister, Vice-President and some Cabinet ministers also enjoy the services of chase cars parked with security officers.

The number of police officers assigned to guard VIPs is set to reduce significantly if MPs pass a Bill seeking to standardise security detail for constitutional office holders.

The Constitutional Office Holders (Security) Bill, 2012 sponsored by Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchella proposes that each constitutional office holder be entitled to not more than two armed security officers during and after their terms in office.

Currently, VIPs ranging from Cabinet ministers, MPs and constitutional office holders such as the Attorney General, National Assembly Speaker, the Chief Justice to judges enjoy round the clock police protection with some having up to five security officers assigned to them.

Selected VIPs, including the Prime Minister, Vice-President and some Cabinet ministers also enjoy the services of chase cars parked with security officers. (READ: Demand for VIP security to soar under new law)

Constitutional commissions

The Bill proposes that the chairpersons, members and secretaries of commissions established by the Constitution be entitled to one armed security officer each.

National Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker and senators will be entitled to two armed security officers each.

The Speaker and senators will retain the same number of security officers even after leaving office but the Deputy Speaker will be entitled to only one armed officer upon leaving office.

The AG, Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions will be entitled to two security officers during their terms in office and even after leaving office.

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