Sameri Park Police Post in Kajiado County on March 5, 2026.
A lone candle flickers in a dimly lit room casting shadows over the worn walls of the Sameri Park Police Post in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
A junior officer leans over a small wooden table scribbling in the tattered Occurrence Book. Outside, the streets of Noonkopir estate are quiet, but inside the police post, five officers struggle to maintain law and order in a facility that has been neglected for years.
Nearly two years after police officers were finally deployed, the post is still a shadow of its intended purpose.
The walls of the mini-cell are cracked, electricity has been disconnected for over a year due to unpaid bills and running water is scarce despite a nearby Tanathi water project. Officers rely on candles and torches to keep the lights on and maintain basic hygiene.
“We usually operate in darkness using candles, torches, or portable lights. We dig deep into our pockets for candles. The same challenges extend to our quarters attached to the post. It’s a life of squalor for police officers,” one officer lamented.
The post consists of three officers’ quarters, a water tank and an underground septic tank. Yet, despite the presence of a Tanathi water project in the compound, there is no running water. At least 100 households relied on the now disrupted facility.
As a result, the officers are now forced to fetch water from elsewhere for personal use and for maintaining hygiene at the facility.
The officer added that a theft suspect had fainted in the poorly ventilated mini-cell recently, forcing them to break part of the wall near the door to rescue him.
Sameri Park Police Post in Kajiado County on March 5, 2026. Stanley Ngotho
Residents have decried the deplorable state of the police post, calling it negligence and an indication of insensitivity toward community security.
Mr James Okumu criticised the local leadership for failing to invest in sustainable energy during the Sh5 million expansion in 2022/2023 funded by the Kajiado East Constituency N/CDF.
“It’s barely two years since renovation. We see no value for money. Solar panels could have powered lights and pumped water. We demand the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission conduct a forensic audit of the project,” Mr Okumu said.
Nancy Njihia echoed these sentiments, noting that the police post was commissioned merely as a public relations exercise.
“The current conditions demoralise officers and put them at risk. It’s also dangerous for suspects and complainants,” she said.
Isinya Sub-County Police Commander Simon Lokitari confirmed the electricity disconnection, explaining that payment of bills falls under the county government.
“Power was disconnected a year ago. Despite these hardships, officers remain dedicated to serving the community,” Mr Lokitari said.
The Sameri Police Post has been mired in controversy since its inception in 2015. Residents initially pooled resources to set up the post due to rampant insecurity, including muggings, robberies, rape and livestock theft.
Yet, the facility remained unoccupied for years as the National Police Service deemed it “uninhabitable.”
In the 2022/2023 financial year, the Kajiado East Constituency N/CDF allocated Sh5 million for renovation and expansion.
The facility was commissioned by MP Kakuta Mai Mai on June 18, 2024, amid public concerns over shoddy work and value for money.
Months later, no officers had been deployed.
Heavy vandalism was reported, prompting the Daily Nation to highlight the plight of residents on July 7, 2024. Public pressure eventually forced the contractor to redo the work, which residents fear may still not withstand the test of time.
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