At 11pm on Thursday, December 5, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and other senior police officers left Kamukunji Police Station in Eldoret City.
Mr Lagat, National Police Service Director of Logistics Peter Ndung’u, and other senior officers from Vigilance House (Police Headquarters) had made an impromptu visit to the police station to assess the situation.
The team, hosted by the station commander and divisional police commanders, inspected the cells, compound, and all amenities. Mr Lagat was impressed.
An urgent meeting of all officers was convened at night, during which the police chiefs addressed various issues, including the discipline of police officers and the cleanliness of the police station.
A signal drafted by the station commanders to Police Headquarters regarding the visit by the DIG stated that the police boss was so impressed that he promoted four police officers on merit.
On the same night, the team made a surprise visit to Moiben Police Station in Eldoret.
Here, the police bosses found the station in darkness. With non-functioning security lights and overgrown bushes, it appeared to be an abandoned facility.
As a result of these findings, the station commanders are facing disciplinary action. The following day, Mr Lagat and his team toured Kapenguria Police Station.
Inside the female police cells, there was a stench from the filth, including used sanitary towels discarded on the floor. Perhaps following this shameful discovery, no police report was filed on this visit by the police chiefs.
Since his appointment as DIG, Mr Lagat has been tasked by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to lead inspections of police stations nationwide. This exercise, which has been ongoing for the past 90 days, has already led to casualties following the exposures.
In an interview at his Jogoo House office last week, Mr Kanja, who made a surprise visit to Kitengela Police Station last month, said he had directed his DIGs to closely monitor operations at the police stations.
The IG said these visits will continue until he is satisfied that the police stations are operating to the expected standards.
“I want to ensure that police stations are functioning properly. I want to make these stations centres of excellence for police service,” Mr Kanja said, adding that he is receiving weekly updates on these visits.
The DIG in charge of Administration Police, Gilbert Masengeli, has also been tasked with touring AP camps across the country.
“How do you explain that a station commander can work in a dirty police station, with no lights and overgrown bushes?” Mr Kanja posed.
He added that he has taken disciplinary action against commanders who have been neglecting their duties.
“Some things don’t require money. For example, cleaning the police station. When we find a dirty police station, the commanders in that area must be prepared to give an explanation,” he said.
The IG stated that as part of efforts to improve service delivery at the police stations, he has planned a series of training sessions and workshops for the rank and file of the service, which will include public relations training.
After taking office in September, Mr Kanja promised a major overhaul of police operations to tackle crime and improve services to the public. He has also pledged to improve the welfare of police officers.
Mr Kanja, who previously served as DIG in charge of Kenya Police, was appointed by President William Ruto to take over from Mr Japhet Koome, who resigned following the anti-government protests in June.
