MPs query CCTV system in Nairobi after Muchai killing

MPs have questioned the reliability of CCTV cameras installed in Nairobi in recent years at a heavy cost to the taxpayer in the wake of the killing of Kabete MP George Muchai at the weekend.

Both the national and Nairobi County governments have spent billions of shillings installing the security surveillance and command centres with a promise to make the city and other major towns safer.

The House is expected to adjourn business Tuesday afternoon when it convenes for the Third Session of the 11th Parliament to discuss the brutal murder of the MP and his aides on Saturday morning.

“We want to know what is happening at our security surveillance, command and control centre...we are suspicious a lot is not happening at that command unit,” Asman Kamama, who chairs the committee, said Monday at a press briefing.

“Otherwise those manning the closed circuit television (CCTV) should have alerted other security agencies like the Flying Squad and Crime Prevention Unit to close roads and arrest the killers.”

The National Assembly Administration and National Security Committee said it would visit the command centre at Jogoo House to ascertain whether the Sh15 billion project, which was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta, is giving taxpayers value for money.

EDITORIAL: MP’s killing a wake up call

He said MPs would raise the issue of Mr Muchai’s execution and other security related challenges in the House. “We are not allowed to anticipate debate but I know some MPs will raise the matter. It will have to come up,” he said.

The committee was reacting to the Saturday morning killing of Mr Muchai, his driver and two bodyguards on Kenyatta Avenue. Unknown assailants, reportedly wearing hoods, blocked the Kabete MP’s car and sprayed bullets on the occupants.

Detectives have been dispatched to Uganda to trace owners of the car the assailants used after CCTV footage in the vicinity revealed it had Ugandan number plates.

The committee said it would summon Interior secretary Joseph Nkaissery, acting IG Samuel Arachi and Safaricom to shed light on the project, which is expected to be rolled out throughout the country. Safaricom won the contract to install the security surveillance system.

“We need concrete answers on the motive of this heinous crime. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the entire government security machinery should explore all motives so far brought forward on Mr Muchai murder in order to prevent future killings,” Mr Kamama said.

The MPs said apart from visiting the security command centre at Jogoo House, they would conduct a fact finding mission on the Sh500 million CCTV project that is under the command of the City Hall.