Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has spoken for the first time regarding the viral incident involving a civilian who played a key role in setting up a police patrol base in Ndugulu location, Uasin Gishu County.
Images of the newly established police patrol base surfaced online on Sunday, March 9, sparking widespread debate on whether an ordinary citizen had the legal authority to establish a facility that is traditionally managed by the government.
While addressing the media on Wednesday, March 12, IG Kanja made it clear that the individuals involved in setting up the patrol base acted wrongly, as there is a formal process that must be followed according to the law.
“Someone recently opened a police station. Let me begin by saying that this was a mistake,” Kanja stated firmly. He then explained the correct legal procedure that should have been followed before establishing the patrol base.
According to the Inspector General, the first step should have been public participation, where the local residents, together with their leaders, assess whether there is an actual need for a police station in the area.
Once the need is established, the next step would be to involve the sub-county security committee, which includes the Deputy County Commissioner, police commanders, and officials from the National Intelligence Service (NIS). This committee is responsible for reviewing the request and determining whether the area qualifies for a police station based on security concerns.
Additionally, IG Kanja emphasized that his office should have been officially notified to allow for the proper gazettement of the patrol base, making it a legally recognized security facility.
The Backstory of the Viral Incident
The police boss’s response came just a day after Collins Letich, the man who provided the paint used to transform a building into the makeshift station, spoke to Kenyans.co.ke to clarify the situation.
Collins explained that, contrary to online reports, the patrol base had been set up less than a week ago following requests from local residents. He added that the facility was not operational and was merely an effort by the community to address the rising insecurity in the area.
Residents of Uasin Gishu had raised concerns that they were forced to travel long distances to access police services, which made them vulnerable to crime. The initiative to establish the patrol base was, therefore, an attempt to improve security in the area.
Despite pointing out that the patrol base was created outside the required legal process, IG Kanja did not completely dismiss the idea of having a police post in the area. He stated that residents who still want a legally recognized station should follow the proper procedure outlined by the authorities.
“It was a mistake on the individual’s part. But if the residents genuinely need a police station in the area, there is a formal process to follow,” Kanja concluded.
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