Sunday, June 23, 2013

Uhuru orders Kimaiyo to deal with errant traffic officers

President Uhuru Kenyatta inspecting a guard of honour by St. John’s Badgers on June 23, 2013. Photo/BILLY MUTAI
President Uhuru Kenyatta inspecting a guard of honour by St John’s Badgers on June 23, 2013. Photo/BILLY MUTAI  NATION MEDIA GROUP
By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com 
Posted  Sunday, June 23  2013 at  15:55
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday directed the Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) to initiate investigations in the traffic police department and deal decisively with errant officers.
President Kenyatta said that the move would help address the increasing cases of road carnage mostly blamed on criminal characters that blatantly violate traffic rules.
Speaking during the Annual Inspection Parade of St John Ambulance in Nairobi, President Kenyatta stated that road accidents have caused many deaths that would otherwise been preventable if concerned state urgencies and individuals were concerned and respected the law.
“I take this opportunity to call upon the Inspector General of Police to investigate and take strict disciplinary action against officers who are compromised and fail to enforce the law on our roads,” Mr Kenyatta said.
He urged Kenyans to be ready for total mind-set transformation as envisaged by the Jubilee government.
The President’s order came amid recent threats by Matatu Welfare Association that they would withdraw from the roads if police did not stop harassing their members and soliciting bribes.
“To curb preventable disasters like road accidents, my government expects the National Police Service to strictly enforce traffic laws and regulations. Many of the lives that we have lost on our roads would have been saved if traffic rules are strictly enforced,” he said.
President Kenyatta also urged Kenyans to support charitable organisations like St Johns Ambulance credited for its professional rescue of disaster victims.
“To be able to continue providing humanitarian services, the Association will require more support and volunteers. I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to appeal to Kenyans who are in a position to do so, to make regular donations to St. John Ambulance,” Mr Kenyatta said.
He also ordered the Cabinet Secretary for Health Mr James Macharia to work on a framework that will see the organisation accommodated within the ministry and further work with the National Assembly to put in place legal frame work that will see St John Ambulance funded by the government.
He said the government will invest in spinal injuries facilities in the country by equipping them better and promised to lead the way in donating funds to the St Johns Ambulance.
Chairman of the St Johns National Executive Council Marsden Madoka said that though the organisation had grown, it had continued to face challenges due to constrained funding.
"This organisation Mr President is fully dependent on volunteers with only 40 permanent staff. We are now planning to roll out into the 47 counties to enhance our activities and therefore requests Kenyans to continue supporting us by donating,” said Madoka.

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