Aspiring police officer ends up behind bars

Mary Nyagothie Korori (left), James Juma Mwaura (centre) and Samuel Njoroge (right) outside Bondeni Police Station, Nakuru after Mwaura and Njoroge were arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe from her.

NAIROBI, KENYA: A young man’s dream of joining the police service turned into a nightmare when he was arrested and locked up at Nyeri Police Station.

The aspiring law enforcer, who was among hundreds of youths who had turned up at a recruitment centre in Nyeri, found himself on the wrong side of the law after the Police Recruitment Committee accused him of presenting a fake Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate.

Attempts by Charles Mwaniki Ndirangu, 22, to convince the officers that his document was genuine fell on deaf ears. “I was unaware my document was not genuine because it was my mother who collected it for me. I don’t believe it is fake,” he said.

Speaking at the recruitment centre, Nyeri Assistant County Commissioner John Marete said they were scrutinising the documents to ensure that only candidates who met all the requirements would join the service.

“The exercise is transparent and very rigorous because we only want the best candidates,” he said.

More than 300 candidates turned up during the recruitment exercise.

The drive, that is targeting to enlist 10,000 recruits, attracted thousands of youths countrywide.

At Chaka playground in Kieni East District, there was a high turnout with more than 500 candidates fighting for 22 vacancies. Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Ondabu attributed the high turn out to the lowering of the minimum required grade from C+ to D+.

In Nakuru, two men were arrested for allegedly soliciting money from unsuspecting youth. Nakuru OCPD Benard Kioko said James Juma Mwaura and Samwel Njoroge Wambui masqueraded as police officers and duped a woman who had been turned away.

They allegedly took their victim to a corner at Afraha Stadium and demanded Sh200,000, promising to secure her a slot in the service. He said that police officers witnessed the suspects negotiating for a bribe.

“My officers found them while still negotiating the bribe. They are typical conmen and desperate people seeking employment should beware of,” said Kioko.

The two were taken to Bondeni Police Station and the OCPD said they would be arraigned in court today.

In Embu, hundreds of youths were locked out after they turned up late. All those who arrived after 8am were sent back home despite most complaining that they had to travel long distances to the venue.

Meanwhile, Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno alleged that the criteria for the recruitment of police officers was unfair and unconstitutional.

Chemno said the use of districts rather than sub-counties was illegal given that some of the 289 districts have not been approved by the National Assembly.

In Naivasha, the high levels of fluoride in water consumed in the town denied hundreds of youths a chance to join the police service.

More than half of the youths who arrived for the exercise conducted at Kihoto grounds were turned away due to either coloured or missing teeth.

Story by Dennis Mbae, Nderitu Gichure, Leonard Kulei, Antony Gitonga and Joseph Muchiri.