Discontent rises over poor housing at Nakuru’s Kasarani police lines

Discontent over the poor state of housing for police officers at Nakuru’s Kasarani police lines has risen sharply, with several police officers lodging complaints.

Sources indicated more than 600 officers are silently protesting their deplorable conditions at the police quarters arguing that their rights had been trampled upon as they face mistreatment and frustration.

“Kasarani has been going without essential services like electricity and water for the past one week.

"The houses are in a bad situation with some having leaking roofs,” claimed the officers, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

An impeccable source disclosed that the electricity was disconnected following non-payment of a Sh20 million bill for the essential services.

On Tuesday, a group of police officers from the wing told the Nation that the government had neglected their welfare with a majority of them urging the authorities to consider constructing decent houses for them instead of leaving them to suffer in the dilapidated conditions.

“Many of us who are of low cadres are sinking into depression due to frustrations from the poor state of living which has made it difficult for us to effectively serve Kenyans.

"The poor living conditions compromise our commitment to our work,” said one of the officers.

CRUCIAL UNITS AFFECTED

Most of those affected work in crucial police units such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the elite flying squad, Administration Police and regular police units.

County director of human rights David Kuria asked the government to address the concerns of the officers saying that police officers needed proper houses and essential services so as to boost their morale in maintaining security of Kenyans.

“It is unfortunate to see police officers in Kasarani and other areas in the country living in poor conditions.

“The government should give the guardians of the country’s security the best services to motivate them,” said Mr Kuria adding that the officers’ welfare was paramount.

According to the officers, junior officers are often forced to rent houses outside designated police houses to give room to their seniors who at times assign their residences to relatives who are not police officers.

“Many of our colleagues are grappling with heavy burdens of renting rooms outside police residential areas just to give room to our bosses who often occupy larger sections of the government houses,” said a displeased officer.

The officers urged the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) to quickly move in and address the situation.