57 police, prison officers killed in line of duty this year -Koome

At least 57 police and prison officers have died in the line of duty in 2022 alone.

The fallen heroes and heroines include 30 from the Kenya police, 19 from the Administration Police, four from the Kenya Prisons Service and three from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki led government officials in attending a memorial service for 57 fallen heroes and heroines of the police service and prisons at the National Police Service College in Embakasi on Friday, December 16.

Also present was internal security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, his correctional services counterpart Mary Muthoni, Inspector General of police Japhet Koome, his two deputies Edward Mbugua and Noor Gabow and Commissioner General of Kenya prisons John Warioba.

Speakers at the event praised the departed officers and called for more measures to prevent some of the deaths.

For instance, Velma Wanjala widow of Gabriel Wanjala asked the government to consider widows and widowers for jobs.

She said posting for junior officers should not be to more security-prone areas.

“They should be taken to those areas after three years of gaining experience,” she said.

Wanjala died in an explosion in Lokichar, Turkana.

Koome said some of the officers were killed by thugs.

He said they will not sit and wait while thugs chop off their hands when they have a gun.

“This is a warning to thugs. We can’t sit and wait for you,” he said.

Warioba said one of the officers died after serving for only three years.

“I regret it because some officers turn against each other using weapons.”

Kindiki said the government will take care of the families of those who departed so far.