A program for the Kenya Police Officers to rent houses outside police lines rolled out two years is set for review soon, it has been confirmed.
According to the National Police Service Chairman Mr Eliud Kinuthia, after the review, the government will decide whether to continue, improve or abolish the initiative adding the program was rolled out to address the acute shortage of houses within some police lines and as a means to integrate police officers with civilians.
Speaking to the media at Wanguru police station, Kinuthia said police officers living outside their duty stations were being paid a house allowance commensurate with the ranks.
He said some officers suffer mental anguish due to the nature of their work. “Some officers who are the first to visit scenes of accidents, murders and all sorts of social upheavals end up being traumatized with some even having lasting psychological illnesses, a phenomenon we are seriously addressing,” Kinuthia said.
Kinuthia toured the area to console officers whose colleague was shot dead at Gathigiriri G.K senior staff quarters recently over a love triangle.
On shooting the officer, the responsible prison Warder then shot himself though the head and died on the spot. “Young men and women who have no experience in marital matters have been caught up in a love triangle leading to deaths or serious injuries hence urgent need to counsel them and also for them to speak out,” he added.
By Irungu Mwangi