Elected community policing officials from Boochi and Mang’era sub locations in Gucha Sub County have been advised to operate within set regulations in helping members of the public with security matters.
The counsel was given by acting Chief of Mang’ere sub location, Peter Kunyoria over the weekend at Ogembo town during the election exercise of choosing new community policing officials.
The chief told the officials that they should consult regularly to be able to execute their roles as expected and they must be ready and willing to be directed by their seniors.
Kunyoria warned the elected members against soliciting bribes from members of the public whenever they visit brewing dens while claiming that they have been sent by the area administration officers to arrest them.
He noted that some community policing officials have formed their own kangaroo courts, which is against the law because arbitration of conflicts in the location is not part of their mandate.
The chief further clarified to the elected community policing officials that they are not allowed to do patrols in the villages in the name of maintaining security, they only conduct patrols when the area administrators has requested them for reinforcement in case they are overwhelmed.
The Mang’ere sub location chief thanked members of the public present for the elections and encouraged them to be keen and vigilant and report forms of malpractices by elected members of community policing.