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When a police officer attached to the Kasarani Police Station was shot dead on October 26 by a gang that took also his gun, insiders linked the unfortunate incident to sabotage, following an icy relationship between two senior cops.
It was alleged that the slain officer was set up by colleagues who were not happy with the “acrimonious” transfer of OCS Norbert Owino, who was “liked” by most of the officers at the station. The slain officer was said to have been in the OCPD’s camp. The Nairobian could not, however, independently verify these claims.
Owino reportedly had a frosty relation with new OCPD Robinson Mboloi who arrived in September. Mboloi allegedly accused the OCS of being disrespectful, lazy and uncooperative – charges that did not please many juniors.
“I am made to understand it was sabotage that led to the killing of the officer. Some officers are not happy with the way Owino was treated,” said a source privy to the goings on at Kasarani Police Station.
As the rivalry, hatred and suspicion play out in Nairobi City County, hundreds of kilometres away, four senior officers are engaged in a tug of war in Siaya County with tribalism being cited as the main cause of tension between OCS J Okong’o and his deputy Simeon Kiriti.
These two cases illustrate weaknesses in command that are threatening to rip apart the National Police Service amid efforts to make it a world class service through reforms and vetting of officers to establish their competence, experience, qualifications and suitability.
Sources say some senior officers are embroiled in power struggles with their juniors, resulting in the emergence of rival camps in many stations across the country that frequently disrupt police operations and efficient service delivery. This is especially dangerous in divisions and stations where juniors, and sometimes members of public, take sides when they feel the local commander is being mistreated by a senior officer.
In Kasarani, OCPD Robinson Mboloi accused his immediate former OCS of several shortcomings, among them failure to report to his boss about a bar scare involving a civilian firearm holder, failing to take disciplinary action against a junior officer, failing to play his right role as the divisional orderly officer and failing to respond to a radio call.
The OCS is also accused of failing to notify the OCPD about a violent robbery and rape incident which took place at Clay City village at 2am.
“The above sitrep (situational report on the rape incident) was submitted to control room at 16:30 hours which raised concern as to why it was delayed. I hereby require you to explain why you delayed to submit the sitrep. You should also explain why you did not brief me about the crime immediately it was reported to enable me brief the county police commander in good time,” directed the OCPD.
But in his defence, which The Nairobian has seen, Owino exonerated himself from blame, citing logistical challenges as he claimed that in some instances, he was attending to other distress calls besides those cited by his boss whom he accuses of malice.
“I am always discouraged by the way you are hostile to me. It weakens my charisma and self-esteem as a commander. In my belief, I see something more than just shortcomings. I have seen it to be something personal hidden in shortcomings, but I plead and challenge you to address the personal issues therein in pretence to any other matter regarding my performance,” replied the OCS.
After 50 hostile working days, the OCPD had his way, transferring Owino to Nairobi county police headquarters and replacing him with Andre Muchemi who was serving at the same station.
In Usenge, the deputy OCS had requested to be transferred, citing poor working relations and accusing Okong’o of several malpractices.
In a warning letter to Okong’o, the OCPD wrote: “The manner in which you conduct yourself and affairs related to management cadre is far below the expectations and if you do not change, then disciplinary action will be taken against you in accordance with National Police Service rules and regulations.”
Inspector Kiritu is accused by the public of undermining all the previous OCSs at the station and enjoying the patronage of bosses who are his tribesmen.
“We are between a rock and hard place because the police officers are not working together and very soon, they will most likely shoot one another. Our security is equally at stake because we don’t trust them with information about hard core criminals,” said a concerned resident.
