Kindiki says State not ready to reinstate security escort for agencies

The government has declined a request by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) to have police escorts during their licensing and revenue collecting operations.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said his ministry would not approve the reinstatement of National Police Service (NPS) escort services to the CMOs until a memorandum stipulating their specific roles is presented.

He attributed the decision to withdraw the service to breaking of the rules of engagement by CMOs whom he accused of failing to present arrested persons before court within the required time.

“There were activities preceding termination of the engagement between CMOs and NPS. There were numerous complaints of extortion from members of the public. Until a time where an agreement and memorandum stipulating well defined roles of each team, the status quo remains,” Kindiki said.

He added: “The withdrawal of police escort from the CMOs in 2020 was a decision made by the National Police Service to protect its image and was informed by several complaints.”

Kindiki, who met with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture to deliberate on the matter, said the National Police Service will continue to enforce law and order, protect citizens’ right to own property.

But the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) Chief Executive Officer Maurice Okoth said reinstating police enforcement to CMOs will enable them perform their duties effectively. He said that since the withdrawal of police reinforcement, their royalty collection had dropped.

“We have observed a direct correlation between the presence of police officers during copyright enforcement activities and the collection of royalties. During the period when we had active police involvement, our royalties’ collection figures were significantly higher.

In 2017 we collected Sh450 million as compared to 2021 when we collected Sh150 million,” Okoth said.