All police officers on leave have been recalled back to work immediately as the country heads to the Christmas and new festivity in a few days.
Addressing the media yesterday, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome this will enhance police visibility and security across the country this season.
“I am therefore recalling all officers on their annual leave to report back to work to increase police visibility and maintain security as Kenyans celebrate Christmas and New Year.” Koome stated
He said being in the service is a calling and officers should not tarry from serving while urging them to seize from taking bribes to permit those breaking traffic laws as they travel to various parts of the country.
Koome issued a stern warning saying they are working with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) Agency to nab corrupt officers.
The IG urged all motorists to adhere to traffic rules and make the season safe for all as he gave a report that already sixteen people have been reported dead this December from accidents.
According to Koome, the majority of accidents are committed by motorists who fail to adhere to the set rules.
“Already we have had two major fatal road accidents in which we have lost a total of 16 people in Machakos and Nakuru since last week. Let all people using the roads this season be extra careful.” He said.
He announced that in conjunction with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) they will be conducting a crackdown of vehicles that normally change roots during the festive season due to a hike in prices and those who turn their private vehicles into PSVs to make extra money.
The IG added that the vehicular situation this year has been further compounded by the ongoing heavy El-Nino rains being experienced in many parts of the county, which in turn has caused poor visibility on the roads urging drivers to be careful.
Meanwhile, police Headquarters has ordered the recall of General Duty officers deployed to traffic duties in a policy directive seeking to streamline traffic enforcement.
The move comes following the completion of a retraining program for at least 1,000 traffic police officers.
In a directive to all Regional Police Commanders, County Police Commanders and the Commandant Traffic, Deputy Inspector General Douglas Kanja said going forward the newly trained team will discharge the traffic enforcement mandate.
Kanja said that there will be no more attachment of officers to traffic duties as it has been the tradition in the past.
“You are directed to deploy back to general duty all those officers who had been attached to traffic duties ensure that they are deployed back to police station general duties.” he internal memo read in part.
The newly trained officers underwent a 2-month extensive course on traffic enforcement at the Kiganjo Police Training college.
She directed all the police commanders to ensure compliance with the directive.
Established in accordance with Section 24 of the National Police Service Act, the Kenya Police Traffic Unit works to ensure free flow of traffic, investigate traffic accidents as well as enforce traffic rules.
The department is also responsible for road safety sensitization campaigns.