Civilian Explains Setting Up Police Patrol Base in Uasin Gishu
The civilian involved in the controversial setup of a police patrol base in Uasin Gishu County has shared more details about his actions, clearing up misunderstandings surrounding the situation.
Collins, the man behind the decision to paint a building in Ndugulu Location with police colors, gave an exclusive interview to kenyans.co.ke, where he firmly denied claims circulating online that the ‘civilian patrol base’ had been operational for six months.
According to Collins, the painting of the building occurred only two days before the images of the site became widely shared.
“I am not sure where these claims are coming from about the base being in operation for six months,” Collins explained. “We only painted the building five days ago.
If you look closely, you’ll see that the paint is still fresh.” He emphasized that the ‘patrol base’ had never been functional at any point.
The man clarified that this initiative was part of a community effort, stating, “This was a community-driven project.
The people wanted a police post in this area, and we decided to help make it happen. You can’t just start such initiatives without some groundwork. I provided resources to help paint the building, and that’s all I did.”
When questioned about why he was under investigation despite the project being a community initiative, Collins expressed his frustration, claiming that the authorities had turned against him after the images of the building went viral.
He further pointed out that the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) was present while the building was being painted and did not raise any concerns at that time.
One of the driving factors behind the community’s decision to set up their own patrol base was the increasing insecurity in the area.
“The insecurity here is a serious problem,” Collins said. “The nearest police post is seven kilometers away, and it’s under-resourced to properly handle crime. They don’t even have a vehicle to respond to emergencies.”
Collins highlighted that some of the most common crimes in the area include cattle theft, motorcycle theft, and robbery.
The location of the area, near a major highway, has made it easier for criminals to escape, further compounding the problem.
Despite the attention the Cheboror Patrol Base has received for the wrong reasons, Collins remains adamant that they are in the process of establishing the post legally.
“This is not a criminal act,” he stated. “We’re still working to establish the patrol base the right way because the community truly needs it.”
Finally, Collins clarified that he had not been arrested. He was informed by the authorities that investigations were still ongoing.
