Somalia: Kenyan Police Join AMISOM to Boost Security

A group of ten Kenyan police officers have joined the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to help enhance security in the Horn of Africa nation.

AMISOM said in a statement on Monday that the Individual Police Officers (IPOs) are tasked with mentoring the Somali Police Force (SPF), part of the wider AMISOM police component mandate, to build the capacity of the SPF and transform it into a credible and effective institution that adheres to international policing standards.

The police officers have earlier completed a one-week induction course aimed at educating them on the mandate of the AMISOM.

AMISOM Police Chief of Staff, Rex Dundun urged the officers to prepare themselves for the tasks ahead, especially for the forthcoming elections.

"You are coming in at a time when the police component is actually scaling down due to rotations and at the same time, we are preparing for the forthcoming elections which make the tasks before you herculean," Dundun said.

"I am sure that you will be able to cope, with the training that you have got and the prospect we have seen in you," he added.

The officers have been undertaking the induction course in Mogadishu since July 18 to orient them with the Mission's objectives.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rachael Munge Kironji said the officers were ready to help AMISOM achieve its mandate.

"We feel capacitated to undertake the tasks ahead of us. As we embark on our AMISOM duties we will continuously remind ourselves of the mandate of AMISOM and we promise to work towards its achievement," Kironji said.

AMISOM Police Coordinator of Training, Francis Aryee said the induction training would prepare the police officers for the major tasks relating to law and order and the implementation of the Concept of Operations.