The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairman Johnston Kavuludi has been petitioned to intervene over delayed reinstatement of a Police Constable Kennedy Karanja who was acquitted of alleged theft allegations two years ago.
In a letter dated November 10, 2016, Karanja told the commission he feels victimized and denied justice.
The case was dismissed by Makadara Magistrate T. Okelo for lack of evidence in 2015.
“I was interdicted on September 14, 2011after allegation of stealing from the warehouse, handling stolen goods and misuse of government vehicle. I was arraigned in Makadara Law Courts where I followed all the court proceedings. On February 26, 2015, I was acquitted under section 210 of the penal Code,” he letter reads in part.
Karanja alongside three others accused of stealing a wooden box containing 600 pieces of Nokia phones worth Sh4, 380,000 at a Swiss Port within .
He was also charged on a separate count of misusing government vehicle without authority.
The Magistrate further said there was no evidence any goods were stolen and no complain was raised that the police vehicle assigned to Karanja was unlawfully used.
“None of the witnesses who apprehended the accused said the contents were mobile phones. It is not even clear how the value in the charge sheet was arrived at. In Count II the accused I (Karanja) is charged with unlawful use of motor vehicle. It is clear he was the official driver of the vehicle he was driving. None testified to say he was not authorised to use the vehicle,” the Magistrate ruled.
Karanja served as a driver at Kenya Airport Police Unit (Kapu) under Ole Tito as the then Commandant.
The has also written to the Chief Executive officer, National Police Service Commission to look into the complaint against Karanja’s continued interdiction from the national Police Service.
Through a correspondence Ref: IPOA/CMU/1981/2016 (3), director of complaints and legal services at Ipoa D M Watila told the commission the complainant was acquitted the alleged offences and his interdiction is yet to be lifted despite availing the court proceedings to his former station.
