By ERIC JUMA
Police officers manning Tingare Police Station in Sigomere, Ugunja Sub-County have faulted the government for ignoring their long-standing grievances, a situation they say has negatively affected service delivery in the area.
The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that letters highlighting their struggles have been sent to their seniors and the area NG-CDF office, but no meaningful action has been taken.
“We are encountering immense difficulties serving the large population in Tingare. We only have a makeshift structure that acts as our office, and whenever it rains, we are forced to respond to public issues under a tree,” one officer said.
He added that the poor working conditions had led at least one transferred officer to decline posting at the station. “One officer slept overnight and returned to Nairobi the next day, citing the poor working conditions,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the officers have adapted, motivated by their duty to serve. “We have decided to stay and offer services to the locals because our monthly salary sustains us,” the source added.
The station lacks electricity and running water, forcing officers to request 40 litres of water daily from the nearby Tingare Health Centre. Such informal arrangements, they say, compromise transparency and fiscal discipline.
“We appeal to the government to address our grievances so that we are not looked down upon by the community. We cannot serve the public from our homes,” the officer said.
Despite the inadequate infrastructure, police have continued responding to crime, including cattle rustling, shop burglaries, and other local offences. Officers also stressed the need for police stations to have authority to incur expenses to maintain daily operations efficiently.
Ugunja MP Moses Omondi said there are plans to improve the station, with details held by the NG-CDF chairman. NG-CDF Chairman Benard Omollo confirmed awareness of the poor facility, saying it has been prioritized for expansion. However, disputes over land donation have delayed the project, as the landowner seeks compensation.
“The first priority was the establishment of the Tingare East chief’s office; the police project came second. Officers will have to remain patient,” Omollo said. He added that he recently inspected the station with Sigomere OCS Wafula and witnessed floods invading the facility, further underscoring the need for urgent intervention.
A 2022 inspection report on police infrastructure and detainee welfare highlighted widespread inadequacies in stations nationwide, including a lack of offices for station commanders, anti-crime units, and poorly maintained armouries. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) also cited the absence of offices for officers in charge of residential areas
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