"Policing Contemporary Kenya- KPR and Private Security" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Nairobi, Kenya | 26-27 November 2014 http://www.genevadeclaration.org/2014rrc/rrckenya/programme.html

1. Policing Contemporary Kenya-
KPR and Private Security
Gerard Wandera
Kenya School of Government
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2. LAIKIPIA COUNTY
CONSEVANCIES
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3. 02/12/15 Gerard Wandera, KSG

4. Introduction
• The concept of Private Security
• The KPR and Rangers: Who are they?
• Difference between KPRs and Rangers
• Key Issues
– Changing roles
– Policy and oversight
– SALW
– Elitism
– Politicization
• Conclusion
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5. Quote
The UN, whose agencies have a large presence in the Nairobi, reckon the
number of burglaries in Nairobi doubled to 300 from the last quarter of
2013 to the first quarter of this year. Private security companies, who are
reckoned to employ more than 100,000 people in Nairobi, are thriving.
Ever more cameras, fences and walls are going up, with barbed wire
strung along the top. Some robbers, dressed as guards, have taken over
entire residential compounds and methodically cleaned out all the houses
(The Economist, May 2014).
This work examines the increasing growth of PSCs with a bias towards KPRs.
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6. Private security
• A person or body of persons, other than a
state agency, registered to provide private
security services
• The includes nongovernmental, private sector
practice, and quasi-public police
• Process of embedding in law ( Private Security
Regulations Bill 2014)
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7. Core elements of Private Security
 physical security, personnel security, information systems
security, investigations, loss prevention, risk management,
legal aspects, emergency and contingency planning, fire
protection, crisis management, disaster management,
counterterrorism, competitive intelligence, executive
protection, violence in the workplace, crime prevention,
crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), and
security architecture and engineering.
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8. KPR and Rangers: Who are they
• KPR is a volunteer auxiliary force recruited from a
resident Sec. 110 (1) of NPSA
• Allowed to take other employment Sec. 71 (1)
• Armed by the State to provide security in the same
locality.
• Provisions of retirement is after 4 years, however
hardly Sec. 112
• No clarity of reporting ie County Police Commander
or County Ap Commander Sec 110 (3)
• Many citizens consider them very important
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9. KPRs Traditional
(Outside)
KPR modern (Scouts/rangers)
(Inside)
No uniform or
borrowed uniforms
Uniform provided
Work for communities Work for conservancies
Minimal or no training Trained in Manyani by KWS and by
British ex-soldiers
No salary or
compensation
Salaried & compensated in case of
injury/death
No promotion Promotion is clear
Armed by OCPD Some armed by OCPD
Comparison of KPRs and or Rangers
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11. Issues: Changing Roles of KPRs
• Metamorphosis of KPR roles
• Privatisation
• Urbanisation, due to changing economy –
commoditization and the desire to earn real money
• Livelihood is an important factor in these changes
• Livelihood also the most important factor in arms
misuse
• Scouts funding may not be sustainable
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12. Issues: Policy and Oversight
• Lack of policy on these changes
• Proliferation of institutions responsible for
scouts – bringing confusion
• OCPD unable to oversee scouts properly and
lacks resources to monitor ordinary KPRs
• Police reform regulations for KPR not ready
yet they are a bigger force than the police in
some areas
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13. Issues: SALW
• Licit arming, and misuse due to poor training,
supervision and lack of pay
• May lead to localized arms race
• Potential for formation of militias
• If scouts funding dries up this risk is significant
• Land conflict is volatile in Laikipia – erosion of
communal land could trigger conflict
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14. Issues: Elitism
• Privatisation of security in Laikipia
• State provision of arms
• Diversion of security from other areas
• A “public good” becomes enjoyed by the few
• Community outside seek an alternative in the
form of militias/vigilante
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15. Issues: Politicization
• KPRs are from a single ethnic group
• Often linked to their MP
• Potential for recruitment into “private armies”
should the time arise
• Under new dispensation, the Governor as
elected leader could misuse them.
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16. Conclusions
• A private rancher recommended,
– “KPRs are strength, because they are local. The
police are outsiders, they are not local and they
are not risk takers like KPR, so it is useful for them
to help the police. What is needed for KPR is good
pay, strict disciplinary procedures, a contract on
service delivery, and training like the police.
Reporting should be on a clear weekly or monthly
basis.”[i][i] Interview, a private rancher, January, 2012.
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17. Conclusions
• Livelihood is a vital consideration
• Policy has not kept pace with change
• It is vital that the state get on top of what is
going on and resource OCPDs to manage KPRs
adequately
• Politicians should be kept out of security
altogether
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