Constable put to task over Sh3.2m M-Pesa transactions

Police Constable Reyland Lwembe of Turbo traffic base. He transacted Sh3.26 million on his M-Pesa account between 2012 and 2013. (PHOTO: CHRISPEN SECHERE/ STANDARD)

A police constable in the traffic department transacted Sh3.26 million on his M-Pesa account between 2012 and 2013.

Reyland Lwembe of Turbo traffic base, said the huge flow of cash was because he used to bank in his mobile phone for traffic regional boss Evans Getembe when he worked in Kakamega. He said he also belonged to a merry-go-round group in which he used to receive and send money through M-Pesa.

The officer, however, could not tell the National Police Service Commission vetting panel sitting in Kakamega town how many members made the group.

“We used to contribute around Sh33,000 per person, we had no minutes and I can’t remember how many we were in the group,” said Lwembe without explaining the intervals the cash was collected.

Asked why he was sending his senior officers money in small installments, he said, “I was in trouble and always went to borrow money from them. The many M-Pesa data of me sending them money show repayments.”

The commission warned him to stop undermining its intelligence.

“Does the police service discipline allow anyhow borrowings from seniors? You mean you are a bother to your seniors?” asked commissioner Mary Owuor.

Officer Lwembe did not respond. He also said he owns a glass boat worth Sh540,000, which he acquired in 2012 and rents out in the Indian Ocean. He told the commission that he took a Sh770,000 loan from the Police Sacco to buy the boat.

An anonymous Kenyan also sent an SMS to the commission accusing traffic officer Galana of notoriety. The message to chairman Johnston Kavuludi read, “Bwana chair, I know that officer Maro, he was at Turbo roadblock, he is a notorious one.”

When the message was read to him, Maro responded, “That is not true. The complainant should have reported to police.”