Governor to crack the whip on rogue police officers

Kiambu, Kenya: The government will crack the whip on rogue police officers who are allegedly abetting crime and working in cohorts with criminals in Kiambu County.

County Commissioner Esther Maina has said it is unfortunate that some police officers had resulted in to working with the criminals to terrorize residents who they are supposed to provide security for.

Ms Maina who chairs the County security committee alleged it had come to her knowledge that some police officers in the county had also become busy collecting bribes from clubs and other traders in the evenings instead of patrolling the area which had given the criminals a safe haven.

"We will no longer tolerate laxity among police officers in the area. You either work in ensuring residents are secure or we will force you to go home," said Maina.

Speaking when she addressed wananchi at Ndumberi chiefs ground during Mashujaa day celebrations, the administrator said to show how serious they were taking the insecurity issues, the government recently transferred police officers who were attached to Ndumberi police post after it became apparent that they were working in cohorts with criminal to terrorize residents who they are supposed to safeguard.

Her sentiments comes after leaders and residents last week decried the soaring insecurity in the county, which they alleged has reached alarming levels and demanded action be taken to tame the vice.

She called on residents to volunteer information on rogue police officers who are soliciting for bribes or colluding with criminals to her for appropriate action in order to slay the dragon of insecurity in the area.

"All these incidences boil down to insecurity. It is high time something was done. If it is the laxity of the police, let it be addressed once and for all," said Karungo Wa Thang'wa Ngewa ward MCA.

The county has in the recent times hit media headlines for rampant insecurity which has claimed the loss of several people with residents accusing the police of doing little to alleviate the situation.

Last week, angry protesters from Limuru blocked the Nairobi-Nakuru highway for two hours, paralyzing transport on the busy highway with residents accusing the police of sleeping on their job as criminals continued to terrorize them.

"Residents are now living at the mercy of criminal gangs. A day never passes without criminal incidents being reported. We feel the police are no longer useful to us," said John Kiragu the Limuru MP who joined the protesters.

A similar protest was also held by residents of Ndumberi village near Kiambu Town over what they termed as runway insecurity in the area.

The angry residents accused the police of turning a blind eye even after receiving information on two brothers, whom they allege are behind early morning and evening muggings.

Armed thugs last week shot and killed two members of one village at Ikinu village. An ailing 75-year-old granny allegedly died on hearing the sound of the gunshots.

In Thika, armed robbers last week raided the home of Kiambu County Assembly minority leader Cecilia Wamaitha and burnt down four of her vehicles.

In a report released on Wednesday by National Steering Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Management, Kiambu County was ranked as the third most prone counties in the country behind Nairobi and Kajiado counties respectively.