Years after their completion, Mbogoini Police Post and Haji AP Post in Waseges Ward in Subukia, Nakuru County, remain unoccupied, failing to fulfill their intended role of curbing insecurity in the area.
Built to enhance security and provide a quicker response to crime in the vast and rural ward, these police posts have never hosted officers, leaving the community vulnerable to rising crime, especially livestock theft.
And to the frustration of residents, the buildings meant to house police officers have instead been turned into teacher’s quarters.
Teachers from nearby schools who are unable to find suitable accommodation have moved in as the unoccupied structures had been left to deteriorate, showing signs of vandalism.
Haji AP Post was constructed after the Subukia National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) allocated Sh1 million for three staff houses in the 2016/2017 financial year.
In 2018/2019, an additional Sh500,000 was allocated for completion works including ceiling, painting, flooring, glazing, fencing and gate installation.
Haji Police Post in Subukia, Nakuru County on March 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Despite these investments, the post remained unoccupied for years until eight months ago, when three teachers moved in to save themselves from long commutes and to protect the facility from further vandalism.
One of the teachers said they moved in after unknown people stole the main gate and doors, leaving the structure vulnerable to more destruction.
According to the teacher, they sought permission from the area chief who allowed them to occupy the facility to prevent further damage.
“The structure had been abandoned for a long time. We were told that it was meant for officers but they refused to occupy it because they wanted more houses and a cell to be constructed. We are just protecting it and are ready to move out anytime officers are posted here,” the teacher told Nation.Africa in an interview on Thursday.
For residents like Paul Kamau from Kwa Haji village, the failure to deploy officers has emboldened criminals leading to a surge in livestock theft.
Livestock farmers now live in fear due to frequent night raids as thieves have grown bolder, knowing there is no immediate police presence to stop them.
Mbogo-ini Police Post in Subukia, Nakuru County on March 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Kamau said many families are forced to sleep in the same house as their goats, sheep and chickens to protect them from theft.
Armed criminals strike frequently and a week rarely passes without a report of stolen livestock or an attack on individuals who resist.
He revealed that criminals who steal from neighboring Laikipia County often use local roads to transport stolen livestock to Baringo County.
Previously, another police station existed a few kilometers away but it was on private property and officers were recalled to Maseno Station.
“When the new post was built, we thought our lives would improve. But five years later, nothing has changed. Livestock theft is rampant, and criminals know there are no officers around to stop them. Reporting cases to the main police station, which is far away, does not help. By the time officers respond, the thieves are long gone,” said Kamau.
Residents have also written to the office of the area MP requesting the deployment of officers. But their appeals have gone unanswered.
“We have so many challenges bad roads especially when it rains, no network coverage and no immediate law enforcement. The police station that is supposed to serve us is kilometers away, and even then, it has no vehicle. Officers use motorbikes, which we must fuel ourselves making it costly. The area chief’s office is also far, so we are basically on our own,” said another resident.
Haji Police Post in Subukia, Nakuru County on March 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The situation is the same at Mbogoini Police Post which has also been turned into teachers’ quarters, leaving residents at the mercy of criminals who terrorise them both day and night.
In the 2015/2016 financial year, the Subukia NG-CDF allocated Sh1 million for the construction of three Administration Police houses. In the 2020/2021 financial year, an additional Sh500,000 was allocated for the construction of a four-door male toilet with a bathroom.
Residents like Mary Wambui say that in addition to the rising insecurity, cases of illicit brew consumption and school dropouts have increased in the area. She believes a functioning police post would deter crime and improve cooperation between the public and law enforcement.
“If the government was serious about our safety, these buildings would not be sitting empty. We want action, not more promises. The national government must prioritise the deployment of officers,” she said.
Waseges MCA Elijah Murage criticised the lack of action despite repeated appeals to authorities. He emphasised that deploying officers would not only curb crime but also restore public trust in the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens.
“It is unacceptable that these police posts, built with public funds are not serving their intended purpose while residents continue to suffer from insecurity. We do not know whether it is due to a lack of funds to operationalise the posts or some other issue. I have tried raising the matter but there has been no progress,” the legislator said.
