Police officers honoured for their work

From left: Police Constable Francis Kosgei, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Nkaissery and Administration Police Constable Nancy Mirasi in Nairobi on May 5, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN R. PHOTOGRAPHY | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Fourteen police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty were honoured posthumously, among them the seven who died in Kapenguria last year when a colleague suspected to have been radicalised held them under siege for 12 hours and killed them.

  • Some 95 officers were awarded, up from 40 last year.

Sergeant Moses Kamenchu, the police officer who counsels drug addicts, was among tens of officers honoured on Friday for their work.

The police officer, who was months ago featured on NTV in a story titled "Sergeant Saviour", was honoured for leading a campaign in Central Kenya that resulted in many people quitting drinking.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said Mr Kamnchu reaches out to victims in schools, churches, and forums to create awareness about the effects of substance and drug abuse.

“He has personally helped alcoholism victims such as Jesse Mbuthia, Isaac Ndungu and many others who have quit and become hairdressers, lawyers and mechanics,” the IPOA said.

Superintendent of Police Andrew Ong’ele emerged top in the category under which Sergeant Kamenchu was honoured the Etra Mile Award.

He was recognised for serving in the National Police Service for 41 years and recovering several illegal firearms, among them the 12 guns he seized in Mount Elgon through negotiations with the community. The officers, among others, were honoured at this year’s Outstanding Police Service Awards ceremony held in Nairobi on Friday.

During the event, Francis Kipngetich Kosgei of Kitui Central CID and Nancy Mirasi of Kibera police sub-county headquarters emerged as the best police officers overall.

IN KAPENGURIA

Fourteen police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty were honoured posthumously, among them the seven who died in Kapenguria last year when a colleague suspected to have been radicalised held them under siege for 12 hours and killed them.

“It was ascertained that the officers who died had been ambushed and had no opportunity to defend themselves,” the authority stated.

The ceremony was attended by the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, IPOA chairman Macharia Njeru, US Ambassador Robert Godec, Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro, National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi, and chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice among others.

Mr Nkaissery applauded the IPOA, saying that he had retracted his earlier belief that the authority was an obstacle in the maintenance of the law.

“I am now calling on IPOA to use their powers to punish rogue police officers with the same energy that they have been using to award the outstanding performers,” Mr Nkaissery said.

Mr Boinnet and Mr Njeru admitted that recognising the good job the police service was doing was a morale booster. Also awarded were police stations ranked top for services. They were, Meru Central for community policing, Mayoni AP Camp as the cleanest, among others.

Some 95 officers were awarded, up from 40 last year.