Assembly probes dumping of street children in forest

Nakuru county assembly Labour committee probing Rongai Sub- county enforcement commander Boniface Lolkiopo over dumping of street urchins at Chemosusu in Baringo county.

Department of public service is on the spot over February dumping of 40 street urchins in a forest.

Former Nakuru deputy enforcement inspector Boniface Lolkiompo, who served in the department, yesterday appeared before assembly committee on Labour and Social services.

Lolkiompo told the committee probing the matter that he was kept out of the loop in the exercise.

He revealed that the enforcement officers only receive orders from the county secretary, CEC for public service or the chief officer.

“The incident occurred when I was away representing the county in a court case. I am not sure on who gave the orders of the three,” said Lolkiompo.

He added that rounding up of street children and moving them to different places had been on since he joined the department in 1993 but not in the manner it was done in February.

After the incident where the children are said to have been dumped in Chemususu forest, Lolkiompo said that he among other senior officers were summoned by the head of public service Lawrence Mwania to discuss the matter.

During the meeting, he castigated those mentioned in the saga which saw him demoted and transferred to Rongai as a sub county commander.

“Although it was not clear to me who was behind the act, I condemned those involved. Instead I got a transfer which to me was a punishment for having a different stand from the bosses on the matter,” he said.

His commander Sifuna was moved to Molo Sub County pending probe but has since been reinstated.