Deputy President William Ruto has cautioned Kenya Police Service against being partisan while discharging their responsibilities.
Speaking in Nakuru at the burial of Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri’s son today, the DP said a partisan police service is one of the greatest threat to peace in the country.
“The biggest threat to our country is a police service that listens to political interest,” he said.
This comes barely days after several politicians allied to William Ruto were arrested following sporadic violent scenes in several by-elections in Kakamega, Bungoma and Nakuru county.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, Kimilili MP Didimus Barasa, Chesumei MP Wilson Kogo, and their Belgut counterpart Nelson Koech were arrested in Bungoma during the Kabucahi by-election.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands they denied all charges of causing chaos in the mini polls and were released on KSh 50,000 bond each.
The politicians had also accused police officers of taking instructions from powerful forces and attempting to influence the by-election outcome through intimidation.
Another of Ruto’s allies, ex-sports CS Rashid Achesa was arrested after a viral video of him slapping an election official went viral.
Ruto said the police service should stop blaming political parties and instead protect property and Kenyans regardless of their political affiliations.
“Police should not have the excuse of blaming any political side. They have a duty to protect the rights and property of everyone in the country,” he said.
On February 20, Nakuru County Senator Susan Kihika and Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri were also arrested shortly after their planned political meeting was disrupted by police in the run up to London ward by-election.
United Democratic Party (UDA) associated with William Ruto went on to win the seat.
