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Kisii Police officers in rare protest
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 23 January 2008 00:12
The officers from the Kenya Police, Administration Police and Prison warders staged a rare protest in Kisii town and declined to receive the sh 2, 500 they were being paid at the district treasury, demanding to be paid sh. 3,600.
The officers threatened to arrest the paying clerks if they were not paid their dues.
The officers said they were entitled to sh 3, 800 but they had received sh 200 for lunch on the polling day and were supposed to get the remaining balance on Tuesday.
Some of the officers who did not wish to be named pointed an accusing finger at area OCPD Augustine Kimantiria for allegedly colluding with the District elections coordinator Naftaly Otuke to shortchange them.
"We are wondering why these people are deducting our hard earned money that we have sweated for. We shall not accept anything less that what we are entitled to," protested a female police officer.
In an unprecedented turn of events the officers who normally adhere to strict obedience for their superiors and highly regard the chain of command turned against their bosses.
They boycotted their respective duties and briefly chanted anti-Kimantiria slogans with a view of giving the OCPD a public dressing down.
910 administration, Kenya police and prison officers manned polling stations in the four Kisii district constituencies during the elections.
Contacted for comment the District Elections Coordinator referred the press to Kisii police boss saying the ECK had no business sorting out squabbles involving the police. He said the commission had released all funds owed to the officers as agreed upon in their pre-election contract.
"Their bosses are at a better position to talk to you. They should stop apportioning blame for messes of their own making," claimed Otuke.
Speaking to the Kenya News Agency on phone, Mr Kimantiria said he was out of office and referred the press to his deputy Chemonges Ndiema.
Mr Ndiema declined to comment but he convened an urgent closed-door crisis meeting with Mr Otuke and the officer in charge of staffing Bosco Muutu to try and iron out the dispute.
