A police officer's solemn duty is to serve and protect the citizens of the country- with most sacrificing their time, resources and social life and at times their lives for the cause.
In the case of Martin Cheruiyot, an officer attached to the Special Operations Group of Administration Police Service, he was killed in a recent terror attack along the border of Tana River and Lamu counties.
Cheruiyot was set to marry Mercy whom they had originally planned to wed on December 30, 2021 but was later postponed due to work engagements.
According to KenKingsley K'Ogola, Cheruiyot's colleague and friend, all police officers were recalled during the festive season in a bid to maintain peace.
"The two planned their wedding for December 2021, but this was cut short by work engagements, given that it was during the festivals season and all officers were needed back at their stations,"K'Ogola told the media.
The couple had already held their engagement ceremony in October last year in Nakuru county and the wedding was postponed to April 15, 2022. However, an untimely death during a recent mission in Lamu County means that their date with destiny will not come to fruition.
The officer will be buried at his rural home in Molo, Nakuru County on Friday, January 28.
The recent spate of attacks in Lamu County saw the government initiate a dusk to dawn curfew in parts of the county. The directive, issued by Interior CS Fred Matiang'i highlighted the following areas as the most affected: Majembeni, Ndamwe, Mkunumbi, Pandanguo, Witu, Hamasi and Binde Warinde locations.
Other areas include Bomani, Pongwe, Mpeketoni, Bahari, Mapenya and Hindi locations.
"In accordance with Section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the National Security Council (NSC) has declared the following parts of Lamu County as Disturbed Areas," read part of a statement from the interior CS.
The county has experienced heightened security in order to restore peace and flush out criminals said to be hiding in the expansive Boni Forest.
