By Collins Wanzallah
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Kenya police Eliud Lagat made an impromptu visit at Mwiki police station in Nairobi on Tuesday, where he pledged to support police officers working in the city. Mr Lagat said that he appreciated the work being done by the officers and urged them to focus on continuous improvements in their service delivery to members of the public. “I pledge to support all officers who discharge their duties professionally. I will stand with you at all times, “said the DIG.
At the station, Mr. Lagat interacted with members of the public seeking various services. He got a first-hand account of the quality of service delivery at the station and told members of the public not to fear the police but to seek their services whenever they need to because they are there to serve them.
“There should be a good working relationship between members of the public and police in the fight against crime because if the public fears police officers, we can`t be able to fight or reduce crime. We need information from you,” he said, adding that he will visit other stations around the city to witness first-hand how police officers carry out their work and ensure that they serve the public well. James Kamau, who is a resident of the area and who had visited the station at the time Mr Lagat was touring, said that the visit by the police second in command would give more confidence to Mwiki residents after he assured them that police were out to work for them and not harass them.
Mr Lagat, who previously was the commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU), took over from the acting police boss, Douglas Kanja, in a recent police reshuffle after the former Inspector General of Police, Japheth Koome, resigned following the anti-government protests spearheaded by the GenZ`s. The deputy IG was accompanied by Kenya’s other senior police officers, Peter Ndung’u, Juma Mashua, and police spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango. The Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Mwiki Chief Inspector Judah Muriuki was also present.
