The arrest of the Ruai Police Station Commanding Officer (OCS) by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) has blew off the lid over deep rot within the hierarchy of the National Police Service (NPS) and blatant extortion from members of the public after arrest or framed-up charges.
The detectives bounced on Ruai OCS Chief Inspector Duncan Otieng following allegations that he was demanding bribes to release suspects.
A report by the Eacc seen by The Informer Media Group indicate that the locals had been arrested in a local club on accusations that they were disorderly after being drunk.
The OCS is said to have dispatched the officers who arrested the developer before detaining them at the station.
On Saturday, the OCS allegedly ordered them to pay 5000 each or spend the weekend at the cell and be charged today (Monday, 6, November 2023) on accusations of being drunk and disorderly.
The Eacc detectives arrested the OCS while allegedly receiving part of the bribe.
“We are concerned about the increasing reports of extortion by some Officers Commanding Police Stations (OCSs) who allegedly detain citizens and then demand bribes as a condition for granting them freedom.” Eacc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Twalib Mbarak stated.
Twalib urged citizens to continue exposing the bad habits of officers who have been tainting the image of the Police.
Otieng’s arrest is a tip of how many officers have turned police stations into extortion centers.
Many members of the public get threats of being charged with unspecified offenses unless they give out bribes.
Last month, the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome Publicly said corruption is rampant in the service.
“I can’t lie. Corruption is with us as police. This problem is called returns; where the junior officers are collecting money and taking it to the Corporal, Base Commander, OCPD, and even the County Commander. Some have even come to my office, trying to give me something, but I refused.” Koome said.
However, the NPS is dogged with claims that the deployment of officers for duty depends on their ability to collect money from the public and later give it to their seniors, popularly referred to as ‘returns.
