This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
On May 6, 2020, Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen expressed his concerns over the deployment of military officers to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), terming it a militarisation of a civilian government.
According to Murkomen, the move goes against the spirit of the 2010 Constitution, which envisions a civilian government. He likened the deployment of military officers to the NMS to militarising a civilian government.
“The militarisation of a civilian county government is the worst form of violation and overturn of our Constitution. Nairobi County has been militarised. It is no longer a civilian government,” said Mr Murkomen.
He further questioned how the military men will be held accountable for their actions, given that their trial system is different from that of civilians.
“You may be happy with the transfer of functions to the NMS but as long as you continue bringing up questions here against military men... their place of trial is the court martial, not the public court. Therefore, we must fight for the core of management of Nairobi in a manner that is responsive to our Constitution and civilian rule,” he said.
