Laikipia County govt stuck with ‘police’ dogs in row with commander

The four dogs at the centre of the row between the Laikipia County government and police commander Angelus Karuru. The dogs were bought as puppies for Sh720,000. PHOTO | MUCHIRI GITONGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The dogs, which are at the Rift Valley Dog Training Unit in Nakuru, were bought as puppies for Sh720,000.
  • However, a source close to the police chief said police were distancing themselves from the dogs because the issue had been politicised and their manner of procurement was suspect.
  • “If they continue insisting that the governor has to be there for their own reasons we will consult and decide the way forward, because the county had purchased the dogs after a lot of consultations with them,” said Mr Wambugu.

An executive is at a loss on what to do with four dogs bought by her department after police showed no interest in taking them.

The row deepened Monday when Ms Agnes Keshine, who is in charge of security, and the governor’s personal assistant, John Wambugu, blamed County Police Commander Angelus Karuru for refusing to take the dogs after their graduation from the dog training unit in Nakuru.

They said Mr Karuru had been insisting that Governor Joshua Irungu personally hand over the dogs to him.

“The governor has told me to hand over the dogs to the police, but the commander insists that the governor does so himself,” she told a press briefing in her office in Nanyuki.

The dogs, which are at the Rift Valley Dog Training Unit in Nakuru, were bought as puppies for Sh720,000.

They were to help in tracking criminals, especially rustlers, in Laikipia North.

SIGNED MOU WITH POLICE BOSSES

This was after a pact was signed between Governor Irungu, the then Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo, Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro and county police bosses.  

On March 19, Mr Karuru rejected a request by Ms Keshine to receive the dogs on behalf of the police. He said he had not been informed by the county commissioner about it.

Yesterday, Mr Karuru said all queries regarding the dogs should be directed to the governor’s office.

However, a source close to the police chief said police were distancing themselves from the dogs because the issue had been politicised and the manner in which the dogs were procured was suspect.

Mr Wambugu denied claims that the governor was disowning the project.

“If they continue insisting that the governor has to be there for their own reasons, we will consult and decide the way forward, because the county had purchased the dogs after a lot of consultations with them,” said Mr Wambugu.

He denied that the governor was also distancing himself from the project, saying past correspondence shows that he has always been ready to participate in the handing over only for Mr Karuru to postpone it.