Rwanda National Police

    Following the inception of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) on June 16, 2000, the force kicked off on a proactive policing notch – community policing – as an effective approach towards solving localised security problems, which were relatively high at the time. This was also a way of narrowing the Police-Public ratio.
    
    Through public awareness programmes, the strategy, slowly but surely, has become a cornerstone to security in the country.
    
    To residents of Kinyinya sector in Gasabo district, community policing ushered in a new sense of belonging.
    
    The community policing framework drawn and implemented by Kinyinya residents sets a model to other parts of the country as the best example on how the community-based crime prevention strategy can actually lead to sustainable security.
    
    “When community policing was introduced in Kinyinya, we embraced it and it blessed us,” Jean de Dieu Kayigi, one of the area residents, said.
    
    The businessman, who owns a hardware shop in Murama cell, is one of the victims of the previous criminal acts that used to characterise Kinyinya.
    
    Thugs, he narrates; broke into his shop stealing 20 bags of cement.
    
    Charles Mwiseneza, another resident also narrates how thugs attacked him as he headed home in late evening back in 2009 and robbed him of his bag and money amounting to Rwf600, 000.
    
    Few days later, thieves also broke into Mwiseneza’s house on day light and stole electronics like TV and a computer.
    
    “Even hanging clothes outside after washing them required you to sit there until its dry; otherwise a minute away would be enough for thieves to steal it,” Mwiseneza reckons.
    
    Cases of thug attacks and assault in awe hours were common especially in Rudobogo and Rugarama villages.
    
    Kinyinya sits on an uphill of the City of Kigali, with some parts accommodating posh houses normally referred to as ‘high-end.’
    
    It hosts the national Vision 2020 Umurenge model.
    
    Five years ago, the sector was one of the areas in the City of Kigali with the highest rate of crimes.
    
    “Previously the sector was loaded with cases of break-in, especially targeting electronics like television sets, home theatre, computers and mobile phones. Talk of the rich, top government officials and the common people in the area, majority of them, in one way or another, have a story to tell on the wrath of the criminal activities that used to characterise.” Raymond Chretien Mberabahizi, the sector executive secretary, said.
    
    Cases of domestic and gender violence, drug abuse and assault, were also rampant, he adds.
    
    Today, Kinyinya is one of the safest places with rare criminal acts, not only in Kigali but also across the country, thanks to various community policing strategies initiated by area residents.
    
    Most of the stolen equipment are also recovered thanks to a tight civilian patrols supported by area residents.
    
    Last month, only five cases of crimes were recorded in Kinyinya, two of them being gender-based.
    
    Area residents tasked themselves to be at the centre of solving their problems, including financial contributions towards crime prevention.
    
    Too good to be true, but the financial contribution saw Kinyinya installing CCTV cameras in congested and other areas that are prone to criminal activities and a control room at a tune of over Rwf1.6 million, bought a patrol car to facilitate civilian patrols and for quick intervention in case of need (Rwf12 million) and built four community policing posts also called ‘Irondo posts.’
    
    These Irondo posts and the control room operate 24 hours and have helped Kinyinya residents to report crimes and civilians patrols to intervene in situations in time.
    
    “These CCTV cameras have aided us to identify criminals and posts also act as centres for the community to report their grievances or collect their recovered equipment,” Mberabahizi explained.
    
    The vehicle also acts as a pick up for people like drunkards to their homes.
    
    “This is their vehicle...bought with their money and it has to serve them in any way possible.”
    
    Kinyinya also boosts of a public communication facility worth Rwf790, 000 located in Batsinda village, Kagugu cell which is at the heart of sensitizing the public on various programmes like vaccination, community activities and other government development programmes.
    
    Early this month, out of residents’ financial contributions, the sector also bought eight walkie-talkies and 86 mobile handsets for Community Policing Committee (CPCs) coordinators and supervisors and to ease their communication with the rest of the public.
    
    Kinyinya has a total of 171 members of CPCs. There are over 74, 000 CPCs across the country.
    
    “Besides contributing greatly to security and safety in Kinyinya, these initiatives have also led to creation of jobs to area residents and the youth in particular, some who used to indulge in various criminal acts like drug abuse and theft.”
    
    “There is a general sense of responsibility and spirit among communities in Kinyinya towards sustainable security. This has enabled CPCs and night patrols to effectively execute their tasks. Periodic trainings offered to CPCs and patrol groups have also instilled discipline, hard work and accountability in them and has contributed to the success of community policing,” says Mberabahizi.
    
    Members of CPCs have accessed financial services from the area savings cooperative – Sacco – thanks to the negotiations between the sector and the micro finance to support their income generating activities.
    
    Awarding best performers
    
    The sector introduced community policing programme competitions among cells, a move which has increased a sense of belonging and responsibility.
    
    Last year’s best overall – Kagugu cell – was in January awarded a motorcycle while the second – Murama cell – got a computer.
    
    “We have seen and satisfied with what our financial contributions do in ensuring security in Kinyinya and we are happy and committed to this great course,” Mwiseneza says.
    
    “Criminals do not get tired. When you defeat them, they try to find other ways to implement their evil plans. Our target is to create a security framework where Kinyinya will be an incident free sector. We want to support our sector to handle all security issues effectively without waiting for Police or other security organs,” Chantal Uwamahoro, another resident explained.
    
    Supt. Rene Irere, the director of Community policing in Rwanda National Police said the force is capacitating CPCs across the country.
    
    Last month, about 500 members of CPCs from different parts of the country completed two-week training in crime prevention, community or domestic conflict management, among others.
    
    Over 2000 members of CPCs countrywide have attained same training.
    
    The force has also donated over 1000 mobile phones to help CPCs provide timely information on any incident.
    
    “These strategies which also include ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ have led the force to shift from fighting to crime prevention. The public are the force’s greatest allies in crime prevention and we are countable to them. They are vital in ensuring safety and security,” Supt. Irere adds.
    
    Community policing has rapidly transformed the post-genocide society towards ensuring own safety, feeling safe, involved and reassured.
    
    The approach was also adopted by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) as one of the effective ways to deal with security threats in the 13 regional member countries.