Gov't kicks off paramilitary training for Assistant County Commissioners

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho says the five-day training which is being conducted at the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi aims at equipping the 451 Assistant County Commissioners, formerly DOs with governing skills at the grassroots.

“Over the past few years, we have seen shortfalls in leadership at different levels. This is what we are trying to correct by ensuring that the people who are supposed to provide leadership at the grassroots level are adequately trained,” PS Kibicho said.

In referring to the current upsurge of corruption, Kibicho said the week-long training would aid in curbing the menace by resetting the entrenched perception that citizens must pay bribes to access public services.

He noted that the officers would be required to conduct civic education on ideal virtues and their link to social development, integrity and civic responsibility.

“This is a calling. We must start planting this seed in the minds of the people that this country is not about ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ mentality," the PS remarked.

In the same regard, Kibicho reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the work environment and welfare of its officers citing the recently acquired 350 new vehicles under the leasing programme to add to the 200 earlier procured.

“From history, we know the challenges we have had. As a ministry, we have put in a lot of effort to address them. The citizens we are serving are our employers. We must serve them fairly, honestly, diligently, and efficiently,” the PS noted.

The premier class of 451 ACCs, Kibicho stated, is the largest number ever to be enrolled at once and the State seeks to train 1200 more officers before the end of the year.

The PS stated that the remaining 900 ACCs would be enrolled after the August General Election, adding that Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs would be trained by December.

In the event, the PS was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General (APS) Noor Gabow and Secretary for National Administration (SNA) Arthur Osiya