Six National Police Service (NPS) officers have been transferred following the closure of a police post over rent arrears. The police post in the Riandira area of Mwea Constituency, Kirinyaga County, was reportedly closed due to unresolved rent payments.
According to reports, the officers had been living rent-free in a house provided by a businessman who passed away in 2018.
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The late businessman’s daughter, Irene Njeri, told Inooro FM that the officers were instructed to start paying rent after her father’s death.
“Before my father died, he instructed the officers to start paying rent from 2018. The arrears have now exceeded Ksh.2 million, which is why we decided to reclaim our property and rent it out to others,” said Njeri, the late Thuita’s daughter.
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Riandira residents express concern
Residents were taken aback as police officers loaded their belongings into a lorry. Some expressed concern over security in the area, noting that the officers had helped maintain order.
“Where are they going? They have greatly improved security here since 2016. What will we do now?” questioned Grace Wanjiru, a local resident.
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“If the police officers leave, we shall not live in peace. We will be getting robbed even in broad daylight. The area MP should pay the rent arrears so the officers can continue staying here,” said a resident.
According to Mwea West Police Commander Rashid Ali, residents will now be served by Rukanga Police Post, located about four kilometers away.
The incident comes just days after a man from Uasin Gishu County was accused of establishing a patrol base and painting it in NPS colors.
Collins Leitich, better known as “Chepkulei” made headlines earlier this month after reports emerged that he had set up the Cheboror Patrol Base within Cherus Trading Centre in Kesses Constituency.
A police report made public on Saturday, March 8, revealed that Leitich had established the base and painted it in NPS colors, raising questions about how the mysterious businessman managed to do so without following the required procedures.
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The procedures include approval by the County security committee, the Inspector General of Police (IG) and eventually a gazette by the Ministry of Interior Cabinet Secretary.
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In a video shared on his social media page, Leitich claimed he had the backing of top police bosses and dismissed reports of his arrest.
He further alleged that senior police officers were present during the launch and painting of the base on Wednesday, a week before the reports surfaced online.
Days after reports about Chepkulei emerged, police arrested six individuals accused of running an illegal police cell in Kakamega County and extorting residents.
This came after the area assistant chief, Isaac Ayumba, was tipped off about the illegal activity on the morning of Tuesday, March 11, by an elder from a neighboring sub-location, prompting an immediate investigation.
Nine people who had been detained in the cell, some nursing serious injuries, were released during the arrest.
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