Parkop defends issuing of security contract to private firms

National

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has defended the security contracts awarded to private companies to provide security for public markets.
Parkop told The National that the NCD Commission was an extension of the Government and an authority and not a security firm and therefore, had to give out contracts to private security firms for public markets.
He made the comment after The National asked why NCDC was spending millions in giving out security contracts instead of just employing its own security to look after public market.
“We are not a security firm, we are an authority and an extension of the government in the city and even in City Hall we have contracted private security firms to provide security.
“The same applies for the new Gordon Market, a lot of money has been invested into it and therefore we have contracted private security firm to provide security for the market, just like all the other private markets in the city,” he said.
Earlier this week, city manager Bernard Kipit told The National that NCDC was paying the Pacific Corporate Security close to K90,000 per month to provide security for newly-built K30 million Gordon Market.