Police officer Hiram Kimathi has said he will not be intimidated after being transferred to Tondonyang in Turkana County.
He believes the transfer was punishment for speaking out against issues facing the National Police Service.
“Sack me if you want. I will not be intimidated for speaking the truth,” Kimathi said in an interview.
He said he expected the transfer, adding that it was, however, done in bad faith.
“It was not genuine. It was out of malice. Why me, in the whole nation? Why are you transferring Hiram Kimathi alone?” he said.
Kimathi said the move indicates a serious problem within the NPS.
“I expected it because I knew that they would transfer me regardless of the cost. But I didn’t take it badly,” he said.
“I think that if the National Police Service could transfer me to Tondonyang, which is in Turkana County, 180 kilometres from Lodwar, because of speaking out, it clearly shows there is a serious problem.”
The officer said he had hoped to be used as a voice within the police service, as part of advancing the community policing agenda.
He stated that the relationship between the police and the citizens needs to be repaired, and his voice could have been used to do precisely that.
He said he has served in “forward areas” and should now be posted closer to town to raise his family.
“I am not eligible to go back to the forward areas. My work is done there,” he said.
Kimathi also made it clear he is not afraid of losing his job.
“Nobody was born employed. If I lose this job, I will go back to society and start again,” he said.
He added that Tondonyang is not a punishment area, but in his case, the transfer is meant to punish him.
“The people there are not being punished. But for me, it’s a punishment because I spoke out,” Kimathi said.
