Interior CS Fred Matiang'i on Monday, March 29, left his vehicle and embarked on a walk into Malili village at the border of Machakos-Makueni counties, to lay a trap for curfew offenders.
The CS, who was accompanied by Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, inspected the border to ensure that police roadblocks, restricting entry and exit into the disease zone were well manned.
It was while on the mission that a hawk-eyed Matiang'i spotted boda boda riders illegally crossing the border and ferrying commuters into and out of the area.
Despite heavy police presence and barricades, motorists and passengers crossed on foot through the thickets some of them on motorcycles. Matiang'i warned the riders against flouting Covid-19 measures.
"We already have a challenge (the pandemic) and we do not want to worsen it by looking like we (police) are aggressive or harassing the citizens. These riders think that we are the enemy, yet the enemy is the pandemic we all are fighting," Matiang'i said.
The CS, however, cautioned the police against using excessive force. Matiang'i said that he had listened to the complaints raised by several Kenyans online and through feedback issued through police hotlines.
Reports detailed that police assigned to enforce Covid-19 restrictions are overstretched and some work for two days without rest.
"Some officers work for 48 hours without changing shifts. They even do three continuous shifts. Let us all understand the role we are playing and try to protect each other.
"We do not want to lose anyone. We want to live and ensure we see the rest of our lives," Matiang'i added.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, March 26, directed a cessation of movement into and out of five counties; Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, and Nakuru, which were marked as disease zone.
Uhuru also revised the curfew for the aforementioned areas to start from 8 pm to 4 am and 10 pm to 4 am for the rest of the country. The President urged the police to ensure the directives were adhered to.
"Even as we do so, I urge all law enforcement officers to live true to their oath of office and discharge their duties without fear or favour in enforcing the containment measures," the head of state ordered.
