Uasin Gishu leaders demand arrest of rogue enforcement officers
Kimani Wanjohi_ Mca Huruma Ward
By Ayago Lloyd
Huruma Member of County Assembly Wakili Kimani Wanjohi has accused Uasin Gishu County enforcement officers for assaulting and harassing members of the business community in Eldoret town.
Speaker to the press the Huruma Ward MCA said the move is uncalled for and should be condemned with the strongest terms possible.
“It is sad that the county enforcement officers have been assaulting business Community, something we can’t allow. The County enforcement officer who is on acting capacity does not meet the legal requirements to hold such a position according to the County by laws ,he is behind the atrocities being committed by the county enforcement officers,Wakili Kimani Wanjohi said while speaking to the press.
Calling out the dreaded team commonly referred to as “koita” , the MCA said the over 30 individuals go around the county with the governor’s blessings extorting money and bribes from licensed traders while others demand for sexual favors from female traders and that the team had turned rogue and dangerous.
“There are people who came with the governor’s blessings, people who call themselves Koita. I don’t know where they came from but it is said they campaigned for the governor in this county. It is good to have supporters but they should not take the law into their hands and harass people in this county. We have received news there are more than 30 individuals who go about harassing traders engaging in their daily routine in Huruma ward. They extort money and collect bribes from licensed traders and if they don’t, their goods are confiscated. Some of them go to an extra mile of demand sexual favors from the female traders.” Wakili Wanjohi added.
Highlighting the challenges faced by non-locals who are the minority in Uasin Gishu County, the lawyer come politician stated the persecutions faced by traders from the County enforcement team are as a result of a director who is in office contrary to the county by laws.
“If we go to the business community, we do reckon that we are the minority, however this does not negate our rights to live in this county and to be treated fairly like any other citizen. Why should we criminalize enterprises and confiscate goods for traders while others are beaten mercilessly with clubs.
There is a Vitz vehicle being used to commit these atrocities. The other day they broke a person’s arm and the director of enforcement is illegally in office with no proper requirements as the law says they should have a superintendent in any discipline force yet he occupies this office without proper requirements.” The Huruma Ward MCA said.
Addressing the issue, Uasin Gishu police commander Moses Mureithi said they had received complaints on various issues affecting residents and they are conducting investigations before the perpetrators are arraigned in court.
“There are complains about people being assaulted in this town and we’ve gotten reports, these cases are with us including of an Eldoret based magistrate who is purported to have been threatened by the said individuals , we are following up on all these cases, those found culpable will be arraigned in a court of law. We plead with the public and those who have been unfairly harassed by the said askaris to report such cases as no one is above the law ,affirmed the police boss.
The Uasin Gishu county woman representative has in the past called out on Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii to address the many complaints against the rogue enforcement officers who have accused of gross human rights violations.
There have been calls to have the law amended in order to subject county enforcement officers ,Kenya forest service officers and the Kenya wild Life officers accountable to the Independent policing Oversight Authority (IPOA)
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