The determination by some Government institutions to ride roughshod over the media and ensure journalists do not get first-hand information from sources on the ground has received a boost from the latest declaration by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo that he is the de facto spokesman of the Police Service.
Mr Kimaiyo has ordered that no County or Divisional police head speaks to members of the press on any criminal matter.
Yet the concept of devolution has ensured that Government institutions embrace reforms by devolving services to the counties.
While the same is expected of the police, Mr Kimaiyo appears to be going against the grain. In effect, therefore, Mr Kimaiyo has gagged all police commanders.
Put into perspective, it means that if a mugger strikes in Kapkatet, someone else steals a motor cycle in Kakamega and another one breaks into a shop at the Coast; Mr Kimaiyo should be the one to announce it.
Mr Kimaiyo needs to be reminded that he is losing sight and demeaning his office.
Perhaps this move is informed by two things; the need for damage control and the urge to conceal information and mislead the public.
In the early part of the year when the Coastal region and other parts of the country were under siege from terrorists, it was not uncommon to hear Government functionaries, particularly the Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security and the Inspector General give information on the security situation that was negated by divisional police officers.
Cases of rogue officers stealing from the public and shooting each other and members of the public over trivial matters are giving the police a bad name that the Inspector General might be attempting to sanitise.
There is no acceptable reason why the Inspector General would arrogate himself the rank of a Spokesman unless there is something he wants to hide.
Under such circumstances, what would the change from the obnoxious force to a service have achieved? Did that change not seek to open up the service to the public and make it accessible and friendlier?
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