Editor's Review

RC Natembeya in a press conference said procedures were breached during the handover of Lanet Police Station.


The defacing of a police station launched by Deputy President William Ruto in Bahati, Nakuru County, has elicited debate on social media with leaders and Kenyans expressing their views.

Lanet Police Station, which was constructed by the Bahati Constituency NG-CDF fund, was launched by the DP on Saturday, December 18.

But hours after the launch, a layer of paint was smeared on the writings indicating the name of the project and the funder; erasing the information completely.

A plaque indicating that the station was launched by DP Ruto was also brought down.

In response to the developments, Rift Valley Commissioner George Natembeya has weighed in on the matter.

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Natembeya in a press conference on Monday, December 20, said procedures were breached during the handover.

{Lanet Police Station that was launched by DP William Ruto. Image: Courtesy}

"You can be willing to offer a building to a police station. There are processes that need to be approved before beginning the construction.

'After the construction, the station must be gazetted after which it becomes a police facility. Unless it is gazetted it cannot be," he said.

He castigated leaders present at the launch for seeking political capital using a government police station.

According to the RC,  Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri putting his name on the station's wall can hinder the pursuit of justice in future.

"If a project is funded by CDF, that is government funds. Let us not take personal advantage by saying I am the one who has done this.

"If Ngunjiri breaches the law in future and he has to be taken to the station, will he be going to his home or government security office? One should not personalize a facility like that. Maybe if you build a toilet and label it that way, not a security station," he said.

Natembeya also revealed that security officers who were present during the launch are not from the station but came along with the DP.

He added that after the launch, the officers went away. According to him, the officers who were there were just providing security to the DP.

"If the station was being handed to the police for use, the regional police commander would have been present. If not, the county police commander. But they were not present," he said.

The RC added that the project will be relaunched again after the completion of investigations on the drama surrounding its defacing.