Celebrating our galant police officers

Simon Kimuyu (Deputy OCPD Ongata Rongai), recieves an award from US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec during the outstanding police service awards programme held in a Nairobi hotel on 14/04/2016. (PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/ STANDARD)

Many times, our policemen are in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

From extrajudicial killings, to corruption, torture claims, harassing innocent wananchi and all round impunity - their actions have eroded public trust and many Kenyans have little confidence in them. It is against this backdrop that the police reform process was launched and while there have been some progress made, it has remained an uphill task.

However, not all police officers are people of dodgy characters. There are good men and women in the police force who are committed to serving the residents of this country and going about their duties with integrity.

It was to encourage such individuals that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) established the Outstanding Police Service Awards where, this year, 46 exemplary officers were feted at an event held on April 14, 2016 at the Hotel Intercontinental in Nairobi.

Among those who received top honors were Simon Kimuyu (Deputy OCPD Ongata Rongai), Sergeant Stephen Kwambai of Mathare camp, Chief Inspector Jennifer Mutuku - a traffic officer popularly known as Bensouda and Sergeant Thomas Longoris of Kapenguria Police Station who were all feted in the Extra Mile Awards category.

Kimuyu, who was fronted by residents of Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County for his efforts in fighting corruption, crime and drug abuse, says he does what he knows best with passion.

“I came to Ongata Rongai in September 2015 and soon established that several cases of drug and substance abuse were being reported to my office.

Some parents especially from Rongai’s Ole Kasasi area complained that their children where smoking bhang sold to them by a local. I took it as a serious issue because I am also a parent,” he says.

After gathering enough intelligence on the suspected drug dealer, Kimuyu hired two taxis and left with other police officers to make the arrest.

“We did not use police vehicles because people would have identified us and tipped off the suspect. We got to the house and found a man rolling the drugs ready for sale. We recovered 96 rolls of bhang, arrested the man and later took him to court,” he says.

But the drug burst did not end there, Kimuyu says further investigations revealed that the bhang was coming from Kware slums in Rongai.

“We went to the slums and from there recovered 543 rolls of bhang ready for sale and some in half a sack. This was a major breakthrough because we also nabbed the master-mind who was later arraigned in court,” he adds.

The top cop says they have continued to monitor the situation and they conduct operations at the slums every two months.

Kimuyu also says that his team works closely with Nyumba Kumi officials in the regions 63 clusters and has begun to interact with youth through sporting activities.

“We work with the Ongata Rongai Youth Sports Association where we meet the young men during their school holidays. Together with the OCPD, we donate trophies for them to hold sports tournaments, which keep them busy,” he says.

The Ongata Rongai OCPD football cup is played when schools are closed and teachers accompany their pupils to the event.

“After the match, we talk to them about drugs and their effects and also encourage them to become law abiding citizens,” Kimuyu says noting there has been a drop in number of drug abuse cases reported.

Records at the police station show that, between January and April, there were ten cases of suspects arrested and taken to court for being in possession of narcotic drugs

Kimuyu says the public believes in him because he understands their problems and his quick response prompts them to volunteer information.

“When people report that they were intimidated by police officers, I take action and apologise on their behalf. We also guide our officers on what they are supposed to do in the line of duty,” he says.

Sergeant Kwambai was hailed by residents from Nairobi’s Mathare slums for his passion and efforts in helping vulnerable children.

“When I came to Mathare in 2012, child trafficking was high and every Sunday nearly 60 children, especially males, from Mathare and Huruma would be reported missing,” he says.

The Sergeant says he decided to visit the slums main play grounds and interact with the children.

“Young children are friendly and honest. I told them to tell me any time there was a new child in their vicinity. And every day while on patrol, I always pass by their play grounds where they give me information,” he says.

Kwambai says this information has proven priceless in breaking up smuggling rings and pointing him towards children who need rescuing.
“Sometimes we find malnourished children who have been abandoned by their parents but I do not know where to take them.

We work with a good Samaritan who runs a community based organisation called ‘Touch the Heart’. She keeps these children in her house waiting for their parents to come forward. Those who are not claimed, we take to Kabete Children’s Home,” he says.

Kwambai who has worked in the police force for 28 years says the recognition by IPOA has renewed his strength to continue helping society’s vulnerable.

“When you do something and you get rewarded, it renews your strength and you feel re-energised. I am happy with these efforts by Government and IPOA.

I however, request that those officers who have been honored should be promoted so they can get morale to continue with their good work and be role models to others,” he says.

For Chief Inspector Mutuku - a traffic police officer, controlling traffic in the city is what she knows best and was nominated by road users for her prowess.

Mutuku is well known as a tough no-nonsense officer who arrests those who break the law without fear of favour and takes them to court. This has earned her the nickname – Bensouda after the International Criminal Court prosecutor.

She is respected by matatu crew who know her as a strict officer who does not take bribes nor entertain deviance on the road.

Sergeant Longoris from West Pokot County was recognised for collecting intelligence on cattle rustling between the Pokot and Turkana community.

His formula for success is simple: Talking to locals, prayer and fasting.

“Frequent killings were witnessed in Turkwel region between Pokot and Turkana communities.

It got to a point where I felt praying, interacting with the community and educating them on the need for peace was paramount,” Longoris says.

His efforts earned him recognition not just with residents but also with junior and senior police officers who described Longoris as a motivational speaker, a pastor and counsellor.

Speaking at the event, IPOA Chairman Macharia Njeru said they partnered with various Government and non-government organisations to make the event a reality.

He said the Outstanding Police Service Awards, which is an annual event, will continue as it seeks to motivate police officers in order to entrench professional policing.

“As we do this, we will then promote public trust and build confidence in the police service,” he said.