Aggrieved police recruits seek legal redress

Aggrieved police recruits from Moi Kapsowar Girls' Centre in Elgeyo Marakwet have filed a petition at the High court in Eldoret to reverse the National Police Service Commission's (NPSC) decision to cancel the recruitment process.

The 39 recruits have, through their lawyer Kiprotich Cherargei, termed NPSC's decision to cancel the process arbitrary, saying it had been conducted in a fair manner.

Mr Cherargei asked for speedy reinstatement of the recruits, saying the turn of events amounted to mental torture of his clients since they had already been given admission letters and were expected to report for training next month.

He said his clients had opted to seek guidance from the court for what he termed a violation of their constitutional rights.

Paul Kiplagat, a former councillor whose child is among those affected, asked NPSC to rectify the matter before it gets out of hand.

"We are surprised at this turn of events because our research has established that all the children recruited are from this county and are well spread out. We are now wondering who else will be re-recruited if not them," he said.

Another resident, Korir Kimaiyo, recalled how he quit his job as a boda boda operator after sailing through the recruitment exercise on his sixth trial only for this opportunity to be cancelled.

"The Government should not take this opportunity from me. I resigned from my job and used up all I had to shop for the things I need for training. I have come too far, there can no be turning back now," he said.

Rosalia Jepchirchir is another young person who will be affected by the turn of events.

She studied criminology and has failed to find a job since she graduated, and resorted to helping her mother in her small shop.

"After I passed the recruitment test, we sold part of the stock in the shop to ensure that I had everything I needed for training only for this to happen. This is not right," she said.