Members of Parliament, have called on the Ministry of Interior to resolve the shortfalls that have made police stations a possible hotspot for the rapid spreading of Covid-19.
A report tabled in Parliament outlined the current deplorable state of police stations in regards to curbing the covid-19 pandemic. The report was based on the survey carried out by the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security.
The parliamentary committee carried out the research in 18 police stations within Nairobi and Kajiado Counties.
The report chaired by Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange, showed that police stations could escalate covid-19 cases if the issues were not dealt with. He stressed that thousands of Kenyans who seek services within the stations were at high risk of infection.
The report outlined the high rate of congestion within the offices as seen in the survey. Out of the 18 stations, Embakasi police stations recorded the highest number of officers with 469.
This was followed by Central Police Station with 400 officers, Kasarani 322 and Kamukunji police station rounded up the 300 mark. He noted that with these kind of numbers, the social distancing directive could not be possibly upheld.
This accompanied with lack of enough facilities and rooms within the stations paved way for virus to spread.
“It was worrying to note that due to inadequacy in office space, social distancing is not possible. Officers are sharing office way above the optimal capacity.”
“In some stations, senior police officers in the rank of Inspector and above, who are heading departments in some stations are sharing offices, sitting close to each other, which should not be the case,” read part of the report.
Another issue which was brought to light was the rare occurrences in which the stations were fumigated. The survey revealed that majority of the stations had only been fumigated once since the onset of the pandemic.
This matter, Koinange noted, exposes everyone who walks in and out of the station. He termed it as unacceptable and urged CS Matiangi to address the pertinent issue.
Koinange also highlighted the risk posed by the police officers and Kenyans due to a lack of proper training in regard to handling Covid-19 cases.
He emphasized on the importance of effective sensitization sessions to the police officers who had been given the mandate by the President to enforce covid-19 restrictions.
“Police officers interviewed from different stations gave varied positions on how they would handle a Covid-19 case, with some exposing ignorance that showed they could expose themselves,” states the report.
Some cells, according to the survey, were also used as temporal holding facilities before cases were transferred to government approved facilities.
