Officers at Kakamega Central Police have been living in darkness for six months now after Kenya Power disconnected electricity to their houses.
Those who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation by their seniors said they have been using kerosene and candles to light their houses.
“There is nothing as embarrassing as seeing our children unable to do their homework well due to lack of electricity. The young ones keep pestering us on why they do not have electricity in their houses while those of their friends have,” said one officer.
“It is even more frustrating when our mobile phones go off and we are needed to go out on an assignment. Our seniors think we have deliberately switched the phones off avoid work, but that is not the case,” said the officer.
The officers take their phones to Kakamega law courts some 500 metres away for charging or rely on friends.
“Nothing is more demeaning and discouraging than missing important calls after the phone suddenly goes dead. Unfortunately, no one is responding to the problem,” said another officer.
The officers say the situation has affected morale at the police station
“We have tried time and again to seek intervention of the leadership at the station, but nothing has been done. We have diligently and tirelessly served this nation and are willing to continue serving but from the look of things, our efforts are not being recognised and our grievances not being addressed,” said one of them.
The officers can no longer watch TV inside their houses or listen to the radio which now lie idle.
“We, just like any other Kenyan, are entitled to access information and know what is happening in other places. But now, no officer at Kakamega Police Station can watch news in his or her house," said one of them.
The officers appealed to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to intervene.
Kakamega Central Police Commander David Kabena declined to discuss the claims, only saying talks are underway to restore power supply.
“It is premature to talk about this issue now. I don’t want to talk about it because we are still in talks with Kenya Power to see what we can do for our officers,” he said.
