Residents of Mwea-West in Kirinyaga County have been plunged into uncertainty after a police patrol base in the area was forced to shut down due to rent arrears.
Officers based at the Riandira Police Post were transferred to other locations following the closure of their base, which was reclaimed by the landlord over an alleged KSh2 million rent deficit.
Six officers had reportedly been residing at the post since 2018 after they were given the structure by the landlord, who passed away in 2018.
Following the landlord's death, reports suggest the officers were notified that they would need to start paying rent to continue their operations in the building. However, according to the deceased landlord's daughter, the arrears have accumulated to KSh2 million.
The eviction has left locals in shock, particularly as they watched officers’ belongings being loaded onto a lorry this week—a stark reminder of their impending security predicament.
Area residents are especially concerned, as the transfer of officers to other stations could pose a potential security threat to Mwea-West, with the nearest police station located four kilometres away.
The issue of limited police infrastructure is not uncommon in Kenya, with remote areas particularly bearing the brunt and having to rely on rented facilities to facilitate police operations.
One of the main reasons police patrol bases and stations sometimes operate from rented spaces is the lack of government-owned infrastructure in certain areas, particularly those lagging behind in development.
Similarly, the need to establish police posts in high-risk areas to respond quickly to security threats sometimes forces authorities to set up operations on private property using formal or informal agreements.
Interestingly, the challenges facing residents of Mwea-West come at a time when there is an ongoing debate about whether civilians can take it upon themselves to set up police stations if necessary.
Earlier in March, a civilian in Uasin Gishu County went viral after setting up a patrol base without informing authorities—an action that has since been condemned by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
At the time, the civilian spoke exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke and detailed the reasons behind his move, saying that it was a "community thing".
"Insecurity in this area is very concerning," he added. "The nearest police post is seven kilometres away (from the illegal patrol base), and it lacks proper resources to fight crime. They don't even have a vehicle," he said.
IG Kanja has since clarified the intricate steps that need to be taken to set up a police station, with one of the first steps involving public participation.
