MPs on Wednesday expressed shock over the poor living conditions of General Service Unit (GSU) officers in Mombasa.
They described the situation as unacceptable for personnel tasked with safeguarding national security.
During a visit by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, lawmakers found officers living in overcrowded and dilapidated housing units within the GSU camp at the Coast regional police headquarters.
In some units, up to eight officers are forced to share a single room without partitions, raising concerns over privacy and dignity.
The situation is worsened by leaking roofs, which make it impossible for officers to rest during rainy periods, both at night and during the day.
Sanitation facilities are also inadequate, with several families sharing limited toilets. MPs noted that the overcrowding exposes officers to health risks, particularly in the event of disease outbreaks. Makeshift mess areas were also found to be below acceptable standards.
Although some officers at a separate section near State House, Mombasa, reportedly have better accommodation, the majority at the regional headquarters are living in poor conditions, including worn-out structures and tents.
“What we have witnessed here is deeply concerning. There is no dignity. And we expect officers to serve this country effectively while living in such conditions,” Tongoyo said.
He added that the leaking roofs and lack of partitioning defeat the purpose of providing shelter, stressing that officers at the frontline of national security deserve better.
Saku MP Dido Raso, the committee vice chairperson, described the conditions as a serious lapse that must be urgently corrected.
Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan said the committee regretted not having discovered the situation earlier, noting that it was not befitting of disciplined forces.
Elgeyo Marakwet Woman Representative Caroline Ngelechei said the officers’ dignity was being undermined by the lack of proper housing and sanitation.
Teso North MP Uku Kaunya and Lari MP Mburu Kahangara both called for urgent budget allocations to address the situation, warning against further delays in implementing reforms.
During a meeting with the officers, George Nderitu, speaking on behalf of the GSU commandant, welcomed the committee’s intervention and expressed hope that improvements would follow.
“We appreciate the committee for taking the time to visit and witness our situation firsthand. They have assured us that our housing conditions will be improved, and that gives our officers hope,” he said.
The committee said the visit was part of its broader mandate to assess welfare conditions in security agencies across the country and recommend necessary policy and budgetary interventions.
Lawmakers reiterated that improving officers’ welfare is directly linked to morale, efficiency and overall national security performance.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The visit exposes long-standing neglect of welfare standards within key security units, raising serious concerns about operational readiness and morale among GSU officers. Overcrowded rooms, leaking roofs and poor sanitation reflect systemic underinvestment in security infrastructure despite officers’ critical national role. MPs’ reaction, including pledges for urgent intervention, signals political pressure to fast-track reforms and budget allocations. However, beyond emotional responses, the situation highlights deeper governance gaps in planning, maintenance and accountability for security housing.