Traffic police officers request to be vetted in Swahili, say they are not fluent in English

Majority of the traffic police officers being vetted in Nakuru cannot express themselves fluently in English.

During the vetting targeting 330 traffic officers based in the Rift Valley region, it emerged that many of the officers had difficulties communicating in English.

Some resorted to Swahili when the Queen’s language proved difficult, forcing the National Police Service Commission to also switch to Kiswahili for proper communication.

Several officers used Kiswahili when responding to queries posed to them in English by the vetting panel.

On separate occasions, two police officers, senior Sergeant Aggrey Osore, an officer attached to Kericho traffic patrol base and Betty Rotich based in Kapsabet threw the Johnston Kavuludi led panel into laughter when they requested that their vetting be conducted in Kiswahili.

"Naomba bwana mwenyekiti kikao hiki kiweze kufanywa kwa lugha ya Kiswahili’… (I request Mr Chairman, that this session be conducted in Kiswahili), requested Sergeant Nawade when his turn to face the panel came, sending the whole panel in a thunderous laughter.

When asked why, the officer said he doesn’t properly understand English.

Mr Kavuludi, however, wondered how Mr Osore who had scored a Credit 4 in English could not understand the language.

Mr Rotich has served for 30 years as a police officer.

The panel was forced to give in as it became apparent that their ‘guests’ were being genuine as they could not communicate in English.

Concerned, Mr Kavuludi said there was need for officers to either go back to school since it was mandatory for them to be fluent in both languages.

"It is for your own good to fluently speak both languages," he said. "Either you go back to learning institutions or seek alternatives,” he advised.

The vetting panel is assessing officers based on entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity and financial probity.

Those who satisfy the commission will then be retained while those who fail the screening will be removed from the service.