A section of Kiang'ombe residents in Kamenu Ward have decried what they have termed as indiscriminate police arrests by Makongeni Police Station officers during night patrols.
The residents have said that the officers have resorted to arresting innocent people on early evening patrols where they extort money from them before releasing them.
"This is impunity of the highest order and we would like the OCS and the OCPD to intervene. I was arrested last week at 8pm at Kiang'ombe shopping centre while heading home from Bidco where I work as a casual. The officers asked me for Sh3000 but I didn't have. They kept taking me round in their patrol vehicle arresting innocent people on the streets. Finally, I was able to raise Sh1500 from a friend through M-Pesa and I was released at around midnight," Frederick Okumu, a resident said on Thursday.
They say the officers have been arresting them under the pretext of curbing bhang peddling which they say has become common in the area.
"When they arrested me at Kiganjo Kona 2 on Sunday last week they threatened me that they would charge me with bhang peddling in court. I feared and I had to bribe them to get my freedom back," said Zachary Njenga, another resident.
Anthony Warui, a butcher in the area fears that they might not be able to do business at night since everybody is falling victim.
"You can never be sure whether you are not the next target. I am closing at 8pm to avoid the arrests," he said.
However, speaking on phone on Friday, Makongeni OCS Samuel Khisa denied knowledge of such arrests by his officers.
"All I know that the officers have been doing is to beef up security in the area at night through night patrols. The complainants should bring their concerns to the station and proper investigations will be carried out," he said.