Police officers manning Nairobi Metropolitan roadblocks in Uplands, Kiambu County. They are under instructions to enforce an order not to allow people from Nairobi enter Kiambu to help curb spread of coronavirus. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Police and the military have been cited as major abusers of the curfew laws imposed by their commander-in-Chief, Uhuru Kenyatta to combat the coronavirus.

This goes against the oath they took to obey their commander. The two offices are also charged with the responsibility of making sure ordinary citizens follow the government directives in stopping the spread of the virus.

The two groups have now been branded as the worst violators of the law. They do not follow curfew regulations and continue visiting bars and restaurants for drinks contrary to the presidential directives.

The number of police officers found drinking behind closed doors bars has continued to rise every day a confirmation the men and womn in uniform have no regard of the same laws they are supposed to enforce.

The police have also come under public scrutiny for abuse of human rights while enforcing the Government directives.

Break the law

An internal report sent to police chiefs Hilary Mutyambai (IG) and his deputy Edward Mbugua has outlined the problems facing junior officers in making sure top State officials adhere to the Corona regulations.

A senior military officer in charge of implementing the Covid-19 regulations at the national level has laid it bare that the police and the military were the worst offenders.

The military chief, identified as Major General Matriri, visited a police road block mounted in Embakasi on April 12 and witnessed the chaos at the road block erected outside the GSU training school.

Matiri is the Covid-19 National Command Centre boss. This unit is responsible for overseeing the implementation of coronavirus guidelines at the national level.

While at the road block, there was disagreement between Matiri and a senior State House security officer, who was driving to his home from work at around 10pm.

According to the police report, the senior State House security officer was driving home when he was stopped at the roadblock.

Matiri is reported to have ordered that the President’s Security officer should drive back to where he came from.

The Superintendent of police is reported to have told the officers manning the road block that he was headed home from work. There was a disagreement between Matiri and the State house officer, who insisted on going home.

It is at that point that Mutyambai was called by the military chief and he is reported to have ordered for the senior cop to be disarmed and locked up in the cells.

Just before 11pm, as the Embakasi police prepared to book the State House security officer in the cells, for the night, a call from Mutyambai came and ordered for his release.

“He (State House officer) left complaining of embarrassment,” said the report.