A video went viral at the weekend where a junior police officer is seen swiftly dipping his right hand inside the right pocket of his senior’s pair of trousers in a foiled pick-pocketing attempt .
This was during an operation to arrest Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Friday morning.
“Netizens”criticised the conduct of the junior officer while others claimed the video was possibly edited to paint the policeman as dishonest.
A source privy to the incident said the junior officer is based in Wundanyi while his target is a Chief Inspector in- charge of traffic at Voi.
Inspector Michael Muriithi.
Hot News could not independently reach out to Muriithi.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino did not respond to queries from Hot News by the time of going to press.
In a WhatsApp group dubbed Taita Taveta Command whose members include police officers, members blamed the vice on the recruitment of Street urchins into the National Youth Service.
They said they later joined the Kenya Police Service and Administration Police Service during president Kibaki’s time.
The two have since been merged to form National Police Service.
In social media platforms, several Police officers said while some officers who were recruited through the NYS are disciplined- some have chosen to be rogue.
“Most of those who refused to reform are either in prison while others have been sacked.” Said an officer who requested anonymity since he is not authorized to speak to the Media.
However, in a tweet, the National Police Service denied that any officer was pick- pocketed.