By CYRUS OMBATI
A police constable has been sacked and arrested allegedly for inciting his colleagues to go on strike through the social media.
According to Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo, Administration Police officer Philip Omondi based at Kimilili was traced by his colleagues after it was found that he was generating short messages on his Facebook account calling on police officers to down their tools and let criminals do their work.
He had allegedly been masquerading as Bradly Philip Charles Konjunga. Mr Iringo said the officer, who is expected in court this morning, was behind messages that incited police officers to go on strike demanding for better pay.
Iringo said a special police team is also investigating the origin of SMS’, Facebook and Twitter messages that are in circulation with a similar call.
Jailed
“As soon as we confirm their details, similar action will be taken against them,” said Iringo.
He said various laws bar the police force from going on strike and warned that anyone arrested for the crime would be jailed for life.
The PS, who was accompanied by the chairman of the National Police Service Commission, Johnston Kavuludi, AP Commandant Samuel Arachi and Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Okonya said commanders have been ordered to take action on any officer who goes on strike over demands for improved pay.
Iringo was reacting to a silent go-slow that is underway in the police force, which has affected operations.
Other than jamming their communication gadgets in major towns across the country, some officers involved in transfer of cash from one place to the other reported to work late. And those who picked the money were forced to sign on pieces of papers to take responsibility incase “anything” happened midway, which affected operations in some financial institutions.
Officials said even traffic personnel on some routes had joined the go-slow. This affected the flow of traffic and there are fears the situation may continue.
Senior officers who talked to The Standard said they were experiencing problems in using their communication gadgets in mobilising operations in their areas of jurisdiction.
The officers have rejected the 8.5 per cent pay rise announced last week by Internal Security Minister Katoo ole Metito.
The Government paid the first phase of 28 per cent then refused to settle the 14 per cent and 28 per cent pay rises of the second and the third phases, which has prompted the go-slow. The officers drawn from the two units of the Kenya Police Service complained of disparities in salaries and allowances between various ranks.
On Thursday, Iringo said the Sh3.7 billion that was released last week will cater for adjustment of basic salaries and allowances for police and prisons officers from last month.
