Policeman moved by hunger victims gives all his salary

One of the core functions of the police is to protect, life but this time an officer saved a life by donating his entire July salary to the Kenyans4Kenya relief kitty.

Police Constable Hashim Mohammed Elmoge was moved by the story of a child who continued suckling her mother long after she had died.

“I had heard that people were going hungry, but had not imagined how serious it was until I saw the real situation in the media,” said Elmoge.

Law enforcer

The law enforcer said he was convinced he could not feed the entire starving population but said he would be very pleased if he saved even one life.

He was probably borrowing a leaf from the teaching of Mother Teresa that if you cannot feed a hundred people, just feed one.

The police constable’s act has shown that it is the epitome of generalisation to assume that all officers are brutal and corrupt, only interested in receiving.

He says he felt morally bound to join the just cause of saving the lives of Kenyans suffering.

Asked about how much he had contributed the officer simply quipped: “Let me not quote the figure. Even a shilling will make a difference.” He added that that was just the beginning.

“I would urge my colleagues to realise the significance of giving, especially during this holy month of Ramadhan,” he said, adding that he was glad his mother welcome his decision.

His mother Mariam Hajji Dakane who is a former nominated councillor who lives in Wajir town.

The first born in a family of nine — seven boys and two girls — was born on November 27, 1975 and attended Township Primary School in Wajir.

He sat for KCPE in 1989 and scored 50 points out of the possible 84 points.

In 1993, he sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at Sabuney Secondary School in Wajir and scored a mean grade of C plain.

His father, Mr Mohammed Elmoge, passed away in December 2006. He was a politician and had contested twice — 1979 and 1983 — for Wajir Central parliamentary seat.

“I am still single and don’t intend to marry soon,” said the 36-year-old officer who was quick to add that the lady he would marry will be the happiest.

Police Constable Elmoge, Force number 86369, who hails from Wajir Central, studied Political Science at the Agra University in India before joining Delhi University where he studied a post graduate Diploma in Journalism.

Officer Elmoge also pursued a degree in law at the Mysore University, also in India.

He came from India in December 2001 but after failing to secure a place at the Kenya School of Law, decided to join the Kenya Police.

He was recruited into the Kenya Police Force in 2004 and served at the Industrial Area police station where he served till 2009 when he was transferred to the Crime and Intelligence Unit at the operations department of the Nairobi area Provincial headquarters.

At Industrial Area station the officer served at the report and inquiry desk, crime branch and also area patrols.

In the year 2008, he attended a special promotion course at the senior Training wing of the Kenya Police College but one month into the training he was discontinued on medical grounds.

He developed hernia and came back to Nairobi where he was later operated on in early 2009 at the Equator Hospital in Nairobi West.

“I have recovered fully and hope that I will be considered for the next promotional course,” said Elmoge.

But the generous officer has had a brush with the law twice, both before the Wajir magistrate’s court first on charges of being in possession of bhang.

The court however acquitted him but convicted the other man he was with, last year.

The officer was also charged before the same court early this year with assaulting another man in Wajir town but the matter was later withdrawn after the complainant withdrew his case.

Nairobi deputy PPO Moses Ombati said the officer was under interdiction because he was charged before court.

However the court acquitted him last year and his seniors had written to the Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere to consider his case.

“It will be at the discretion of the commissioner to either uplift the interdiction or remove him from the force,” said Mr Ombati.