Somali border saga puts our security on the line

Mike OWuor

The conduct of Kenyan security and immigration officials at the border with Somalia has been the subject of many critical reports by human rights organisations, one of which PointBlank commented on last year (Police officers’ shameful acts seem to have no limit, April 3).

The situation is compounded by an order in 2007, purporting to close the border. But rather than ensure security, this move has only presented a credible excuse for corrupt officers to ask for bigger bribes and spawned more panya (unofficial) routes.

Fee movement

This means it is business as usual in the smuggling of goods, weapons and illegal immigrants from the war-torn country — with the able assistance of crooked police officers at a fee.

But the recent arrest and arraigning in court of an Assistant Commissioner of Police for allegedly ferrying illegal immigrants into the country may be a pointer to how deep the mess is.

Clearly, some officers have crossed the line. Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere surely owe the public assurances and an explanation.

Who allowed the release of this suspect?

Thomas Okumu claims he was among the residents that found a suspected robber trying to cart away goods from a store in Namanga Road Estate, Kitengela, on July 17.

Being "such good citizens", Okumu tells PointBlank that they arrested the thief and took him to Kitengela Police Station, after resisting the temptation of mob justice. The matter was duly recorded (OB 46/17/07/2010) and justice seemed to be taking its course.

"The following morning we went to the same station to record statements but were told to return at 4pm. We were even given the name of the officer handling the matter," he says.

However, the assigned policeman was nowhere to be seen at the appointed time. In the meantime, Okumu alleges one of the witnesses received a call from someone who claimed to be a police officer and proposed that the suspect be forgiven as there was supposedly insufficient evidence to sustain a case in court.

"We rejected the request, but later learnt the suspect had been released in unclear circumstances. Perhaps Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere could find out what is going on," Okumu suggests.

Spread of ‘contract disease’

Claims of ill-treatment of medical staff working under contract just don’t seem to go away. Ms Maryanne Kagwe in Kirinyaga explains she is among health staff who have been working on contract basis since 2006, "in extremely unfavourable conditions".

The understanding, explains Kagwe, was that the contract was supposed to last three years, meaning it would end in June 2008 and the staff would be absorbed into Public Service.

"But after four years full of empty promises from then Medical Services PS James ole Kiyapi, it appears we have been forgotten by the ministry and the Public Service Commission (PSC)," says Kagwe.

Ill-treatment

She, however, claims that only staff who had the money to bribe cartels at Afya House, the ministry headquarters, made it to the list of those that PSC considered for employment.

"Meanwhile, payment of salaries has been inconsistent and some of us have not received any money for the last three months. I kindly ask the ministry and PSC to look into our plight. We need an explanation on when we will be paid and absorbed into public service," pleads Kagwe.

Pangani police patrols poor

Christopher in Mlango Kubwa, Nairobi, thinks the Provincial Administration and officers at Pangani Police Station are not doing enough to protect residents. He reports that a gang of eight, armed with assorted weapons, has been stealing from people going to work between 4am and 6am.

The confidence and regularity with which the criminals operate give credence to allegations of police complicity, notes Christopher. He tells us this has made residents fear for life and limb, with nobody to turn to. How, Christopher asks, can such a gang operate so openly without the police arresting them?

Officers’ transfer tale far from over, Mr Mudavadi

At the end of a letter from a Local Government employee who had been following up what should have been a straightforward move since last December, PointBlank asked on May 26: Who is blocking transfers?

Mr Zablon Otiende from the Municipal Council of Kisumu, requested to swap places with Mr Austine Wafula of the Municipal Council of Mombasa. After presenting reasons for the transfers, which were given a nod by the concerned Town Clerks, it was left to the ministry to prepare release letters to facilitate the move. But that "mere formality to be cleared by a simple correspondence" had turned into a source of distress, prompting a request for the intervention of Minister Musalia Mudavadi.