Police in Mombasa set an example to their colleagues accused of using excessive force after assisting a drunkard who was roaming the streets during curfew hours.
In a video that surfaced online on Monday, May 11, a drunk man is seen engaging police officers in a conversation while claiming he was headed to work in a place whose description pointed to a popular club that was already closed when the government ordered the closure of all entertainment joints in the country over Covid-19.
The man was lucky to bump into kind police officers who offered him assistance instead of putting him behind bars.
The man tells the officers who are patiently engaging him that he was from Shauri Yako area and was headed to Casablanca for work.
The police officers asked him to produce his mask but he proceeded to take off his documentation instead and told the officers that he was headed to work before he lost his phone.
The officers proceed to give him a mask and even help him put it on before telling him to return his documents in his pocket and inquired if he had any money on him.
He was given the option of either being held in a cell until the curfew was over or being allowed to return home.
The man would acknowledge that he was aware of the Covid-19 threat stating that a case had been reported in his neighborhood.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Mombasa Deputy County Police Commander, Joesph Chebii revealed the reason for a number of police officers in the county helping people violating the curfew.
"It is a resolution. When we come across the needy members of the community, we assist them. During curfew hours the drunk people are assisted, including needy members of the community.
"If it gets to the point of arresting a drunkard he will be handled professionally, knowing this person can easily fall down and injure himself. If you resist arrest then police officers are allowed to use minimum force," noted Chebii
As of Sunday, May 10, Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i had ordered a probe into the case where a policewoman damaged an essential service provider's vehicle at a roadblock.
Chebii noted that cases of police oficers haraasing civillians could be avoided with more precise briefing.
"Brefing is very important. You brief a police officer to do the right thing and he will do the right thing, but if you tell the officers to go for duty without giving details, you find officers not doing the right thing," said Chebii.
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