POLICE RESERVIST ON THE LOOSE IN KISUMU

BY:  JEFF OTIENO
  FREELANCE JOURNALIST
  BASED IN KISUMU - KENYA
  CELL PHONE:  0720616018 
  EMAIL:  jeffotieno at yahoo dot com
 
  Kisumu City and its environs has been marooned by a cartel of conmen masquerading as members of the defunct Kenya Police Reservist Unit extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public under the pretex of offering them protection.

Leading the cartel is a Mr. Kim who hails from Kisian along Kisumu Bondo Road who has perfected the art of extortion thanks to his self imposed attachment with the flying squad department and at times Nyanza Provincial Police Officers (P.P.O) desk.

The once taut at the now refurbished Kisumu bus park has engaged the services of a clique of flying squad officers harassing members of the business community, usurping even the role of Traffic Police to harass even motorists.

Kim who is always glued at the back left of the magnificent flying squad vehicle will also be seen with the said notorious corrupt officers wining and dinning at wee hours in leading joints.

Recently a businessman based in Kisumu fell prey to these cartel when he was nabbed for spinning a state of the art vehicle which they suspected was ill acquired. He was locked for three days in Kondele Police Station together with his suspected dubious vehicle.

The suspect had to scream in the cells when a Junior Police Officer confided to him that his vehicle was being used in the evening hours for undisclosed errands.

By the time he was being detained, the cartel (flying squad and Kim) were demanding staggering Kshs.100,000/= for his release which he was adamant to part with and was later released without a charge.

Another businessman staying in Migosi and driving a K.A.T. Toyota Honda also met the wrath of this money hungry cartel.

He was also arrested, threatened with robbery charges and tortured to part with a whopping 200,000/=. He is currently walking on a stretcher courtesy of the syndicate.

For starters, Kim is always in Police uniform and strategically positioned at both Kondele and Central Police Stations looking for hapless members of the Public with serious cases he can negotiate with them to share the loot with his clique.

Enraged members of the Public are now wondering whether despite the disbandment of the Kenya Reservist wing by the Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, it’s only in Kisumu City where the ban has apparently been lifted to favour these plundering hartless cartel.

END