BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
Junior Police officers in Garissa have decried harassment and intimidation by Senior officers.
This is after cartels allegedly in collusion with their bosses, initiated their transfers for impounding their vehicles that ferry contraband goods from Somalia into the country.
Officers who spoke to Hot News on condition of anonymity for fear of intimidation by their bosses said the cartels ‘poured’ a lot of money at regional headquarters in Garissa to ensure strict Junior officers are transferred from Garissa.
Several junior officers that have in the past been involved in making arrests and participated in burning the contraband that includes rice and sugar appeared to be the target of transfers.
This was through a police signal dated March 23,2021.
This transfer was allegedly linked to impounding of a bus emblazoned Wamo Classic KDA 003Z in mid-February by junior officers manning a roadblock within Dadaab.
They said they alerted their boss OCS Issac Noor of Ifo police station who told them to release it.
This angered the officers prompting them to make several calls to different multi-agency senior officers.
The bus was finally impounded, and several bags of rice and sugar were torched.
A signal was then sent to Vigilance describing the occurrence.
No arrests were made.
The bus was later released.
The signal seen by Hot News was signed by sergeant Timothy Wekesa on behalf of OCS Ifo police station.
It reads in part, ” Please be informed that today 13/2/2021 at around 4. AM police officers from Ifo police station acting on a tipoff from members of the public intercepted one bus registration KDA 003Z.”
The bus was intercepted along Liboi-Daadab road.
According to the signal the bus was carrying 138 bags of diamond rice and 72 bags of Ahsan Brazilian Sugar.
All valued at Ksh 385, 000.
The transfer signal also in possession of Hot News has affected officers across the region.
It has however been signed by Garissa county police commander Ransom Lolmodoni instead of the regional commander Rono Bunei.
It reads in part, “The Regional police commander, North Eastern region has approved the deployment of the following officers.”
The affected officers are supposed to report to their new stations immediately after K.C.P.E and K.C.S.E examinations.
It is not clear why Bunei has not appended his signature on the transfer signal which has affected the transfer of seventy-seven police officers only across the region.
Regional police commander Rono Bunei contacted on his phone said he was aware of the allegations against the OCS.
He dismissed it as rumors by Junior officers who were protesting transfers.
“I do not even personally know the officers who were transferred, I just received their names. Why didn’t they raise the issue before the transfer?” he posed.
Bunei however, said an officer called him and told him that they had impounded a lorry ferrying contrabands and that is why they are being transferred.
An officer said Lolmodoni only has mandate to transfer officers under his command at the county level.
“Those targeted were Junior police officers manning roadblocks within Garissa county. Officers from other counties that have been affected is just a cover up.” said a Junior officer.
He sought anonymity for fear of intimidation.
Officers from Ifo police station in Dadaab subcounty said the OCS Isaac Noor is a direct beneficiary of illicit trade.
“He reported at the station about five months ago. He previously worked at the station while he was an inspector of police and is back as a chief inspector.” said an officer in Garissa.
The OCS is said to have vested interests in the area.
He is said to have been transferred from Msambweni to Mandera but bribed his way to be posted at Ifo police station,Garissa county.
Affected officers in the region told Hot News they have evidence of bribery where the cartels bribe Noor thrice a month after every 10 days.
Contacted Noor denied the claims. He said the transfers were normal and authorized by Bunei.
Noor said he is committed to fighting cartels.
“I am very firm in fighting cartels and I am very Junior to initiate such transfers. They were ordered by the regional commander.” he said.
Two bus conductors are said to be the link between the cartels and Noor.
This arrangement was allegedly negotiated when six buses dealing in contraband were impounded between December 2020 and mid-February 2021 by Junior officers against their Seniors will.
The two conductors speaking to this writer who posed as a right man to Noor confirmed that they give a bribe to Noor thrice a month.
The bribe is then shared with his bosses in Garissa.
Asked whether they were still coming to see Noor on March 31st, one of the conductors told this writer they would do so in two or so hours since he was held up at a neighbor’s burial.
“The money is ready; it will be delivered in the evening. You know it is wrong to burn the goods, it is better to eat it.” Abdikadir Adow said.
“The Ksh 180, 000 monthly bribe is given in cash to the OCS or deposited into his mobile money account at a local Mpesa agent.” An officer told Hot News.
The officers want OCS Noor’s Mpesa accounts investigated as well as the local mobile money agent trading as Masalani Communications. Agent number, 20088.
Dadaab subcounty police commander Edward Changach did not comment on the issue when reached on his phone.
He said this is a very sensitive matter that needed us to meet one on one.
He said it is therefore a bit hard to comment on phone.
“Okey. You know one would like to comment when you can see each other one on one. This is a sensitive matter. Mambo ya simu kidogo iko shida.” he said.
Juniors said Chalanga summoned all officers from Ifo police station in February and warned them against impounding of buses ferrying contrabands.
He allegedly told the over forty officers that they risk their lives or transfers if they continue to do so.
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