Integrity and courage in the face of fear is what distinguishes Corporal David Chumo from his colleagues.
Chumo, a traffic police in Bomet County has braved challenges and risked his life to combat poaching and illegal charcoal trade in the area despite constantly receiving death threats.
He won the Huduma Ombudsman Award (2017) as the best police officer for his call to duty in a service that has become synonymous with corruption, extrajudicial killing and other social ills.
Chumu said he has never compromised his role as a policeman as it would be greatest disservice to the nation that he vowed to protect on oath.
“I have worked very hard and gone to extra mile by performing traffic duties and the entire police work. I been arresting poachers who kill our wild animals and charcoal dealers and despite death threats, I have not been deterred,” he said.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) today when he received the award from the Attorney General Githu Muigai, he said he has been offered a lot of money but turn a blind eye on many occasions and declined.
“I have been offered over 100, 000 shillings sometimes more…I have refused to take the bribe and turned the criminals in,” he said. He said the award gives the public confidence that there are good elements in the police service which gets backlash for taking bribes.
AG Muigai, it was encouraging g to see ordinary Kenyans do exemplary work in their own small ways to make the country a better place.
“While there so many new challenges, sometimes we fail to recognise that there are outstanding public officers who continue to make this country proud,” he said.
He said the award motivates Kenyans in the public service to do well in the society. Muigai said the sacrifice made the officers and other Kenyans cannot be understated.
He urged police officers to work to restore public confidence in the institution.
