Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now wants police to escort drunkards home at night. Speaking during the launch of construction of affordable houses programme in Homa Bay town on Friday, Gachagua said some police officers harass civilians unnecessarily.
Gachagua said there is need for police in Kenya to focus on serving Kenyans instead of harassing them. Gachagua said the drunkards found wandering in villages or towns at night should not be arrested.
"If a police officer finds a drunkard at night, he should be taken to a cell. Instead, he should escort the drunkard to his house," Gachagua said.
The decision might be a challenge since some criminals may masquerade as drunkards to escape arrest by police at night.
He warned the disciplined service men and women against taking bribe from civilians.
Taking bribe from members of the public
"We want police to shun taking bribe from members of the public. They should only ensure that Kenyans do whatever they do in line with the law," Gachagua said.
The DP promised that the government will improve salaries of police officers with.
Gachagua said they are putting measures in place to review salaries of police. The review is aimed at increasing their salaries.
Gachagua said the measure is aimed at improving delivery by the disciplined officers.
He said the president had set a taskforce to look into salaries of the officers.
This is part of the fulfillment of pledges which President William Ruto made during campaigns ahead of the last General election.
"The government is putting measures in place to increase the salary of police officers. This is aimed at creating conducive environment for our police officers to work well," Gachagua said.
He said there is need to improve work environment of the officers to ensure they deliver services to the people effectively.
The Deputy President argued that the government intends to make the service men and women be servants instead of those who harass civilians.
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He said work of police is to protect Kenyans but not frustrate them. The DP argued that there is need for conducive environment where police and civilians interact freely without any coercion.
"Let police be friendly to civilians and guard them. But we don't want a situation where some police officers create harsh environment for frustrating Kenyans," Gachagua said.
He spoke when he accompanied President William Ruto in tour of projects in the county on Friday. They were flanked by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, former Ndhiwa MP Agustino Neto among other leaders.
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