KENYA : Tension erupted in Kiamanyeki village, Mwea-East, Kirinyaga County, when residents nearly lynched six detectives from Kerugoya Police Station, suspecting them of attempting to abduct a local woman.
Drama unfolded when residents raised the alarm after witnessing Jackline Gatwiri being forcibly bundled into the detectives' vehicle.
An Eye Witness narrated the Ordeal to JULISHA saying "I saw Gatwiri being grabbed by armed men and pushed into the vehicle. I immediately suspected she was being abducted and called for help. The villagers responded quickly and surrounded the car."
A visibly shaken Gatwiri, recounted her harrowing experience.
The officers called me to meet them in Ngurubani town, claiming they needed my help to arrest a suspect who is a friend of mine." Gatwiri revealed.
" When I arrived, they forcefully put me into their vehicle and drove me to Kiamanyeki village without giving me a chance to inform my employer," she said.
The situation escalated as angered villagers, armed themselves with crude weapons, and condemned the vice in their village. Locals stated that they will not tolerate Subaru vehicles in Kirinyaga county because several abductions have been reported across the country involving similar cars.
Kiarukungu Location Chief Henry Kariuki, the Area Chief, clarified that the detectives were tracking a robbery suspect who frequently communicated with the woman.
According to the chief, the officers believed Gatwiri could help them locate the suspect. However, the issue arose because the detectives neither informed the local administration nor the area police station officers about their operation.
The detectives, who were travelling in a Subaru vehicle, were rescued by armed officers from Wanguru Police Station.
In other news, the National Police Service (NPS) is set to recruit cadets to join the police service after two years of recruitment freeze, Principal Secretary for Internal Security Dr. Raymond Omollo revealed.
Speaking in a media interview on Friday, January 10, 2025 Omollo announced that the upcoming police recruitment will also feature the hiring of cadets.
“There are issues around human resources that we must do and human rights that we must undertake and even the proposals to reintroduce the hiring of cadet officers so that not everybody who joins the rank and file of the national police must join the same level and all these are geared towards addressing some of the gaps,” Omollo disclosed.
According to Omollo, the move aims to improve service delivery within the police service and align it with former Chief Justice David Maraga’s recommendations on police reforms.
The PS mentioned that some of Maraga’s recommendations have already been implemented, particularly those addressing the movement of officers to prevent them from overstaying in specific stations.
“Some of those have been actualized- particularly the administrative ones that talk around the movement of officers or just to address the gap of officers overstaying in specific or particular stations overtime,” Omollo stated.
Additionally, part of the recommendations concerning the salaries and remuneration of police officers has also been put into effect.
Among the reforms recommended by former Chief Justice David Maraga are measures aimed at combating corruption within the police service by reducing unethical practices in employment, promotions, and daily operations.
The reforms also emphasize the need for improved leadership to ensure greater accountability and efficiency within the service.
Additionally, Maraga proposed the reduction of political interference in police operations to promote impartiality and professionalism.
Another key aspect of the reforms involves revising the police training curriculum to better equip officers to handle modern challenges effectively.
The National Police Service resumption of recruiting officers comes after it was halted for 2 years.
On December 15, 2024, the Kenyan Government announced the resumption of police recruitment with plans to hire 5,000 new officers in March 2025.
According to the government, the recruitment aims to bolster security across the country, particularly in regions facing significant challenges.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki highlighted that this initiative is also part of the government’s effort to address rising unemployment rates.