Government cuts water and power at Kakamega Police Station

Officers at Kakamega Police Station are living without electricity and water after their supply were cut off last week.

This follows expiry of a deadline set by the Government for some cadre of officers to vacate station houses to decongest police bases countrywide.

In reforms announced by the Government last year, officers were given house allowances to enable them rent houses outside the stations. 

Acting Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) at Kakamega Central Jacob Chelimo said the policemen and women had been receiving their house allowances since December.

“The Government came up with a policy to have officers rent houses elsewhere and leave a manageable number at the station. Since December, the officers have been getting their house allowances but do not want to move out,” said Mr Chelimo.

The government will not pay the officers allowances if it still caters for their water and electricity bills, he said.

Kakamega police station is served by single electricity and water meters that were paid for by Government.

“Those going to continue living in the quarters inside the police station will foot the cost of their water and electricity usage. Everyone has to manage their usage. The central water and power meters have been disconnected,” Chelimo said.

The Government wants the officers moved from police lines to reduce congestion that has forced them to live in deplorable conditions for years. But many police officers want more time to find better houses outside the station.

An officer told The Standard they risked an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

“There is a nursery school at the station and their toilets are in a very bad state. We may have the worst cholera outbreak at a police station ever,” said the officer. Mr Chelimo said they had hired a lorry to supply the station with water.