Do not give money to any police officer, says IG Mutyambai as interactive sessions kick off

Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has commenced interactive sessions with members of the public on Twitter using the hashtag #EngageTheIG. IG Mutyambai says that the live sessions are a result of clamor by the public to have a ‘closer and keener engagement’ with the National Police Service and will run on every alternate Monday.

There has been a clamor by the public to have a closer and keener engagement with @NPSOfficial_KE. I have taken note of that and will be dedicating an hour every alternate Monday to engage with you personally on a live Twitter chat #EngageTheIG. pic.twitter.com/hv6OSUoxPw

— Hillary N. Mutyambai (@IG_NPS) June 21, 2020

Kenyans used the platform to raise various issues of concern including the rollout of the Digital Occurence Book. The IG noted that the Digital Occurence Book was one of his flagship projects in a bid to reform service delivery at the National Police Service. ”We did a pilot project in Kasarani which was successful and now we await rolling out nationwide this coming financial year”, tweeted the IG.

This is one of my flagship projects in a bid to reform service delivery at @NPSOfficial_KE. We did a pilot project in Kasarani which was successful and now we await rolling out nationwide this coming financial year. #EngageTheIG https://t.co/i5yPyCEmcb

— Hillary N. Mutyambai (@IG_NPS) June 22, 2020

Mutyambai also touched on the issue of paperless payment of fines, reiterating that the National Police Service is in the process of drafting legislation for parliament’s approval that will enable paperless payment of fines.

This is a very good idea and @NPSOfficial_KE is in the process of drafting a legislation for parliament’s approval that will enable paperless payment of fines. #EngageTheIG https://t.co/58uqjefw6r

— Hillary N. Mutyambai (@IG_NPS) June 22, 2020

Kenyans also raised various complaints relating to police brutality. The issue of police brutality came to the limelight most recently during the efforts by the Government to enforce measures intended to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease. Pictures and videos of police whipping Kenyans who were in breach of the nighttime curfew which started on March 27th 2020 surfaced on both mainstream and social media, sparking concerns on whether the police had fully reformed into a service. A report released on June 2nd by the Independent Oversight and Policing Authority (IPOA) says that 15 people have been killed and 31 more injured by the police since the government began the enforcement of security measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

While noting that many cases of police brutality happen at night and others in remote parts of Kenya, Mutyambai urged Kenyans to keep reporting such cases and also send videos to the relevant authorities.

We encourage all citizens to keep reporting cases of police brutality. I’m aware some of these cases occur at night & others in remote parts of Kenya. Forward videos to us. I depend on you to reign in on errant officers even as we embark on retraining all officers. #EngageTheIG https://t.co/7xuABgGgdy

— Hillary N. Mutyambai (@IG_NPS) June 22, 2020

The IG also urged Kenyans not to give money to police officers demanding bribes in order to provide police services and to report incidences of solicitation to the Internal Affairs Unit of the Police Service, IPOA or the EACC.

DO NOT give money to any police officer. Report the matter to Internal Affairs Unit of @NPSOfficial_KE , @IPOA_KE and @EACCKenya. Please share your number immediately for action in Salama Police Station. #EngageTheIG https://t.co/lUes5aPeL5

— Hillary N. Mutyambai (@IG_NPS) June 22, 2020