BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
Members of the public seeking services at the Ruiru police station have accused Ruiru Subcounty DCI unit boss of laxity and arrogance.
They have appealed for intervention from the director of criminal investigations George Kinoti to tame the unit headed by Cyrus Ombati.
Mary Nyambura,a breastfeeding mother who sent money to a wrong mobile phone pay bill account last year told Hot News she has been frustrated by the officers at the DCI unit.
“I sent Ksh 40, 000 meant to pay for a car loan to a wrong pay bill number but the officers handling the matter are taking me rounds after talking in their mother tongue.” She said.
Speaking to Hot News on phone Ombati denied the claims.
”I am always in the office by 7 AM to ensure that officers have registered their attendance from Monday to Friday.” He said.
Ombati said once a complaint has been registered, his officers take up the case and report to him in two weeks.
The matter was reported vide OB No.31/6/12/2020.
Hot News confirmed the transaction that was sent to the wrong account as OL375MBJ73 Confirmed. Ksh40,000.00 sent to Pronet Kenya Limited for account 0100005782575 on 3/12/20 at 1:47 PM New M-PESA balance is Ksh58.00. Transaction cost, Ksh45.00. Amount you can transact within the day is 260,000.00. You can now access MPESA via *334#
Nyambura said her efforts to seek intervention from Ombati have been futile.
She said his deputy, a lady has frustrated her more.
“I came here in mid-January and I was kept waiting on the bench for three hours with my toddler and I was never attended to. I left to nurse my baby.” She told Hot News.
On January 22 at around 11 am this writer accompanied the complainant to the DCI’s office who did not even want to listen to the journalist.
He left his office haphazardly saying he was in a hurry rushing to a bank.
” I cannot talk to you now, am rushing to the bank come tomorrow or wait till I come back.” He said.
Several complainants that day who did not want to be quoted fearing intimidation told Hot News that was the norm from the boss and his juniors.
Hot News confirmed that at least three officers attached to the department including the boss are from one community and they allegedly speak in their mother tongue in a public office.
We decided to approach an officer at the DCI reception who advised Nyambura to wait for Ombati’s deputy and he offered her a seat in the deputy’s office since she was carrying her breastfeeding baby.
The office was wide open and had a visitor’s seat.
The deputy who entered shortly after reprimanded the young mother telling her never to enter her office in her absence.
“If I say you have stolen something from here would you deny? You were here the other day and I told you to see my boss. Did you?” She said.
She went on. “If you jump up and down looking for help all over you will not be helped. It was your mistake to send money to a wrong number. It is not the police who did it. We can only sweet talk that person since it is not easy to get the money back.” She told Nyambura.
The deputy DCI boss asked Nyambura to call the officer handling her case only identified as Matunda who allegedly told her in Swahili that, ” Unanipeleka mbio sana.” Loosely translated as, “You are pushing me too much.”
Nyambura has now appealed to the DCI chief George Kinoti to intervene so that justice can be done.
Contacted Ruiru Subcounty Police Commander Phineas Ringera said no one has ever lodged a complaint against the DCI.
“We share the same waiting bay with the DCI, and none has complained against the department. We get out of the offices and ask our clients what their issues are.” Ringera told Hot News on phone.
A senior DCI officer at Mazingira house who talked to Hot News on condition of anonymity for he is not authorized to speak to the press said, “That is a matter that the officers at Ruiru can handle, they have the necessary equipment.” She said.