Police officers in Kakamega Central are living in quarters without electricity and water after the supplies were cut off last week.
This follows the expiry of a pre-set deadline (issued in 2018) by the government for officers to vacate station houses and live with civilians in estates in efforts to decongest police bases in the country.
The government directive also came with provisions of allowances to enable the officers to cater for their expenses out of the confines of the stations.
Acting Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) of Kakamega Central Jacob Chelimo communicated that the officers were already receiving their house allowances since December 2018.
“The Government came up with a policy to have officers rent houses elsewhere and leave a manageable number at the station. Since December, the officers have been getting their house allowances but do not want to move out,” indicated Chelimo.
The police chief asserted that the government would not be held responsible for paying the officers’ allowances if it will continue to cater for their expenses like electricity and water bills.
Kakamega Police Station is served by a single electricity meter as well as a single water meter.
Since the officers are reluctant to leave the premises, the government has also shown laxity in paying the bills. The outcome is that the officers and their families are now forced to live in deplorable conditions.
Chelimo added, “Those going to continue living in the quarters inside the police station will foot the cost of their water and electricity usage. Everyone has to manage their usage. The central water and power meters have been disconnected.”
On their part, the officers claimed that they needed more time to find good living environments outside the station.
One officer indicated to The Standard, “There is a nursery school at the station and their toilets are in a very bad state. We may have the worst cholera outbreak at a police station ever.”
