Mombasa Senator Mohamed Fakii, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, the HAKI Africa rights group and the Mombasa County Peace Committees have called on the national government to implement the recently announced police reforms in a gradual manner.
For the case of Mombasa, they said the situation is currently volatile and getting police integrated within communities immediately may do more harm than good.
Addressing the press on Sunday, the leaders first requested that community policing regulations be implemented to integrate the police command structure and county government with members of the public.
The leaders said authorities should then give the Peace committees some time to first roll out dialogue meetings in the sub-counties to promote peace and security before rolling out the police integration plan.
President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Police reforms last week which included integrating the Administration Police with Kenya Police Service, change of police uniforms, transforming AP camps into police stations among others.
"We then appeal to the authorities to give the Peace committees some time to first roll out dialogue meetings to promote peace and security before rolling out the police integration plan."
While they await DPP Noordin Haji's action on extra-judicial killings, the leaders said peace committees will begin public barazas all over the county in partnership with the administration and police to support peace and cohesion.
"The barazas are expected to take six weeks after which we can review the situation. We call on all Mombasa residents and leaders to support this initiative so that we can restore peace and security in Mombasa."
Faki and Nassir were elected through the Raila Odinga-led ODM party.
#hivisasaoriginal