Besides exposing dubious transaction involving hefty cash and unexplained fat bank accounts, the ongoing vetting of traffic police in Nakuru has had a fair share of comic incidents.
One officer, constable Albert Wanyama, left the vetting panel and journalists in stitches after explaining how he has distributed his wealth among his two wives in Eldoret and Kitale.
Asked by National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi why one wife has gotten a bigger share compared to the other, the officer said: “It is because she has eight children and the other one has only two.” Wanyama, who has worked in the service for 30 years, is based in Kokoto Police Station in Nandi.
Appearing before the panel on Saturday, the officer told the panel that he is currently building a Sh9 million bungalow for his second wife, adding that his first wife’s mansion cost Sh12 million. Asked what he learnt from his secondary school head teacher, the officer replied “Nothing, sir!”, sending the whole room into laughter.
“Why are you saying you didn’t learn anything from him?” Kavuludi asked. “It is because he was a bad man and we always ran away when he appeared.” Commissioner Peter Wamoto asked him if he needed some water, to which he replied: “I don’t need water now, but may be later depending on the circumstances.”
The panel seemed puzzled why the officer, who speaks fluent English and Kiswahili, has remained in the same rank for 30 years. Earlier, Kavuludi heaped praise on constable Alice Naker ,who is based in Sotik Police Station, for performing her duties well. “It is not every time we say this, but we are so proud of you.
You are a good example to other officers for being exceptional. Continue doing good work and portraying a positive image of the police,” he said. “Life is not about how much wealth you accumulate but the legacy you leave behind,” Kavuludi told the officer pursuing a degree in counselling.
But not all officers elicited humour and plaudits, as others were reprimanded and described as downright arrogant. For example, constable Agnes Chebii, based in Kitale, had rough moments starting from the moment she stepped into the vetting room. She failed to salute the panel according to police protocol, only asking them “habari zenyu?”. The panel ejected her from the room.
“You’re a stranger here,” Kavuludi told her. When she was recalled but she evaded questions, with panellists describing her as “economical with words”. “You’re the only person who has failed to make a complete sentence since we came here… what is the problem? It appears there’s something you’re hiding,” said Kavuludi.
Meanwhile, the welfare of police officers deployed to security operations areas like in the bandit-prone North Rift was highlighted yesterday as an officer narrated to a vetting panel the poor conditions they work in. Richard Kiprop Bii, attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, pleaded with Kavuludi to visit the officers “and see for yourself what they are going through.”
He said the officers have been neglected and Kavuludi promised to look into the matter. Officers Dennis Kirui, Dorothy Adhiambo and Peter Kipsang were also vetted largely on unexplained transactions such as M-Pesa transfers. The vetting continues today.
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