Four police posts located in Likuyani Sub County in Kakamega have been shut down and police officers attached to them redeployed.
The closure has been executed despite an order by Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, rescinding earlier instructions to police bosses to close down all police posts with less than six officers.
The Interior Ministry had backed on the earlier decision to close down the police posts following a public outcry with the members of public expressing fear over possible rise of insecurity in the area.
The move has left the residents who were previously being served by officers attached to Machine, Ivungwi, Godown and Mwiba police posts without adequate security services at their disposal.
The residents have protested the move saying it will compromise the security gains that have been realized in the area over the years.
Area Member of Parliament, Enock Kibunguchy, said the action was ill advised, adding that the Constituency Development Fund Committee was forced to invest money in putting up the posts to beef up security in the area.
“We used CDF funds to put up some of the police posts because we wanted to improve security in this area. It was wrong for Edward Mbugua (the Deputy Inspector General of Police) to take such a decision unilaterally. He has closed the police posts at the expense of the safety of our people,” said the Legislator.
On October 27, 2021, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Edward Mbugua, ordered regional commanders to facilitate the closure of all police posts and patrol bases that were manned by less than six police officers, and the respective officers reposted to their main police stations.
Mbugua stated that the closure would ensure effective service delivery at the police stations which could not be realized while officers are distributed in small stations.
Police Spokesperson, Bruno Shioso, reiterated the directive saying that rationalization would be achieved and service delivery boosted at the points of service.
“We need to consolidate our strengths to perform better and more effectively, the directive is meant to rationalise and improve service delivery,” said the Spokesperson.
The decision to close the centers was taken after Kirimon Police Post, Samburu County, manned by four police officers was attacked. The raiders broke into the post’s armory and stole firearms before fleeing.
