Kisii hostile place for us, traffic officers tell police vetting panel

At least five police officers appearing for vetting before the National Police Service Commission in Kisumu have said they fear working in Kisii due to hostility.

Speaking at the Tom Mboya Labour College, the officers told the panel led by Commissioner Ronald Musengi that motorists and the public are hostile to them.

“Police are even beaten when they try to arrest traffic offenders,” said Corporal John Mwanja, who has been a traffic officer in Kisii for more than three years.

“It forces us to ask for firearms,” he added.

The hostility has made many traffic officers to use firearms to scare away those who resist arrest or attempt to free arrested colleagues.

The claim was echoed by Constables John Kipsang and Patrick Mutinda.

Cpl Patrick Kipkemboi, who is based in Machakos but was previously in Keroka, concurred.

LAW BROKEN AT WILL

“Members of the public do not follow the law. Traffic rules are broken at will. This is not the case in Machakos,” he said.

Mr Mwanja said he had worked in the former North Eastern Province but Kisii seemed to be worse.

But Nyanza Regional Police Coordinator Willy Lugusa attributed the hostility to mistakes by the officers.

“This issue of hostility towards traffic officers in Kisii is a creation, it must be because of bribery and that is why the members of the public are fighting back,” said Mr Lugusa.

The Nyanza Police boss, who represents the Inspector-General in the panel, asked Mr Mwanja to state how many traffic cases he manages to handle successfully per day, bearing in mind that some officers from the region manage 10 to 15 in a day.

“I manage three cases per day. By this I mean those I manage with the help of others to ensure they reach the station. Others I try to arrest but other motorists make it difficult for the offenders to reach the station,” said Mr Mwanja.