BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
The selflessness of a Junior police officer stationed in Marakwet East Sub-County; Elgeyo Marakwet County has caught the attention of well-wishers including the Professional Criminologists Association of Kenya-PCAK.
The policewoman made face masks from her savings and distributed them for free to residents and her colleagues.
Police Constable Caroline Makena came to the limelight after her photos went viral after she was captured distributing the masks this week to residents.
She is the only female at Tot police station.
PCAK founding chairman Munene Mugambi has mobilized members and other well-wishers and they agreed to buy sewing equipment for Makena.
“We have engaged the officer and we want to appreciate her noble initiative in the fight against this pandemic. This is despite the challenges she faces in her work” Mugambi told Hot News on phone.
The fight against Covid-19 has intensified with the health ministry calling on Kenyans to wear masks whenever in public places as a measure to stop the spread of covid-19.
Other measures include social distancing and a 7 PM to 5 AM curfew among others.
In an exclusive phone interview with Hot News on Thursday, Makena said she decided to make the masks after she failed to get one from her immediate shopping Centre.
“I shopped around for two days but could not find any. I sent someone to Eldoret to buy two masks for me but could not buy as he was unable to beat the curfew. I finally got the masks after three days.” She told Hot News.
Makena was curious and could not understand why it took her three days to get a mask.
She decided to tear one of the masks so that she could find out what it was made of.
“I found out it was a simple product whose raw materials could be sourced locally.” She said.
She noticed that her colleagues and members of the public visiting the station were exposed and decided to make masks for them for free.
The 29-year-old and a mother of one is a trained fashion designer from Meru National Polytechnic where she trained for two years before joining Kiganjo Police College in 2015.
“I decided to buy raw materials and borrowed a sewing machine from a neighbor despite strict conditions.” Makena said.
She requested her boss who allowed her to sew the masks from the police station while still on duty.
Makena said it was hectic on the first day since she did not practice fashion and design after graduation because she joined the police college immediately
. “I only managed to make two masks because it was long since I did it. The machine was also a bit problematic.” She said.
She decided to hire a different sewing machine the following day at a cost of Sh 200 per day for three days.
“I managed to make masks for my 23 colleagues and extra ones for every visitor to the station.” Makena said.
Her colleagues manning roadblocks also took with them some masks to distribute to motorists and passengers.
PCAK legal advisor Gitobu Imanyara described Makena as a shining light.
“Caroline Makena is such an example. She reminds us that there is always something each one of us can do to uplift each other.” Imanyara said.
He added that the police officer deserves a commendation next time State Honors are published.
The second-year procurement student at Mount Kenya University said demand for masks was high after word went around that she was making masks from the police station.
Afraid of compromising her work, she decided to train local designers how to make masks hence creating job opportunities for them.
Her greatest challenge is that she could not afford to produce many masks to meet the demand.
Makena has also been distributing sanitary pads to needy schoolgirls using her savings as well as creating awareness on sexual offences.
“When shopping for my pads, I buy extra because schoolgirls come begging from me. We are good friends. They call me mum.” She told Hot News.
She said sexual offences cases reported at the station have dropped one year since the awareness programme started.
Makena thanked her seniors and colleagues for encouraging her.
She joins a list of police officers who have recently received public commendations while in line of duty.
Amina Ramadhan from Embakasi police station was captured on camera helping a woman and her baby cross the Eastern bypass on the first day of a curfew that started on March 27.
The woman had panicked because she was still outside by the start of the curfew.
Another officer Ibrahim Abajila was spotted in Baringo sanitizing residents and telling them the importance of adhering to the curfew.
At the same time other police officers enforcing the curfew elsewhere were accused of harassing and beating citizens.