Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has warned police officers against engaging in corruption activities while serving citizens.
He said the government would not hesitate to take stern action by sacking corrupt state officers.
Kindiki, who visited the troubled Sondu market on the border of Kericho and Kisumu counties on Saturday, said police must serve citizens diligently and without taking bribes.
He was accompanied by Rift Valley regional commissioner Abdi Hassan, Nyanza RC Flora Mworoa, Rift Valley police commander Tom Odero and his Nyanza counterpart Mannase Musyoka amongst other Kericho and Kisumu counties security officers.
“We will sack those taking bribes from Kenyans. We must respect citizens. I am the CS because of these citizens. Even the President is there because of them,” Kindiki said.
He also directed police and national government administration officers in Rift Valley and Nyanza regions to serve without favour.
The warning comes amid claims that some officers were taking sides in handling the insecurity in the Sondu area.
He told police officers that they took an oath to serve in the national police service, and must desist from any tribal alienation while discharging their mandates.
Kindiki revealed that the public has raised complaints of excessive use of force by the police which must end.
The CS asked officers from Kericho and Kisumu to conduct joint operations or patrols to ensure peace prevailed in the troubled Sondu market.
“Police have no boundaries. Even when on leave, he or she has the mandate to maintain law and order, and therefore we want our officers in Kericho and Kisumu to even use a police vehicle from Kisumu to patrol in Kericho,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki pledged that the government will work with leaders and stakeholders from the counties with border disputes to find a long-lasting solution.
