A delegation of 14 officials from Kenya, yesterday, visited Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru as part of their week-long tour to share experience on Rwanda’s social cohesion in terms of unity and reconciliation.
The delegation is composed of members of the committee of the National Assembly of Kenya on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities as well as the commission of the national cohesion and integrity of Kenya.
They were received by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, who briefed them on the role of RNP in peace building and national unity.
The Police Chief said that after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in which more than one million people were massacred and every institution in ruins, the government priority was to ensure security and justice as an ideal to pave way for national unity and reconciliation.
“We have guiding principles; the country chose to become one with same values and positive ideologies, work together as institutions to amend minds and hearts of those affected by the Genocide, but also ensure security and justice as foundation for development and national transformation.,” IGP Gasana said.
The merger of the three institutions that had the police mandate in the year 2000, he said, was to ensure a professional, coordinated command to ensure good governance and rule of law, ensure protection of people’s rights, build confidence and trust and be accountable to the people.
He further noted that the shift from reactive to proactive way of policing brought the Police and the people together to address issues that affect their security and wellbeing, and fight negative ideologies in particular.
The philosophy of community policing through which over 74000 members of community policing committees, 2000 anti-crime clubs, 250, 000 youth volunteers and other groups have been formed in the country, he explained, instilled the sense of belonging but also became a force multiplier both in fighting and preventing crimes, but also working together in human security activities of supporting the disadvantaged communities.
The human security activities include construction and renovation of houses including those of the genocide survivors, connecting about 4000 remote homes with solar energy, environmental conservation through tree planting – 800 hectares planted so far – donating livestock, all which supplement the national development efforts.
“The journey travelled so far has been challenging; it’s a continuous journey from crisis, survival, stability to success,” he said.
He also hinted on fighting GBV, cross-border cooperation especially with other police institutions to track down criminals including genocide perpetuators, and ensuring road safety are other aspects where the force has focused.
The head of the delegation, Dan Mwanyama, said that after the recent elections there is a lot of tension on Kenya between regions and ethnic groups.
“From what happened here in 1994, the government came up with a concept and ideologies that have made people not to revenge, co-exist in harmony, look at one another as Rwandans. This is what we want to define as the 43 tribes of Kenya to see themselves as Kenyans but not to be devided as regions or on grounds of ethnicity,” Mwanyama said.
The Express News
