A police officer in Eldoret has threatened to move to court to sue his boss who allegedly suspended him for refusing to chase away a herd of cows grazing outside her house.
Speaking to a local publication, Newton Chebii recounted the twist of events that saw him suspended days after refusing to adhere to orders by his senior.
He intimated that on the said day, he was alone at the police station after his colleague left for treatment following a short abrupt illness.
Also Read:
At the time, an inspector at the station arrived and asked him to leave the station and chase away the cows grazing outside her house.
“After my colleague left to seek medication, one of my seniors who is an inspector, and who is based in Lang’ata Police Station, arrived at the report office and asked me to go and chase away cows that were grazing outside her house within the post," Chebii told the publication.
“I politely declined to act on the order because as a police officer, I was not obligated by law to chase away cows that are not under the custody of the police. Secondly, I was the only one manning the report desk and the armory. What if I left the armory unmanned and criminals broke in? Who would be held responsible?” he posed.
Chebii further disclosed that he was relieved of his duties by an OCS at the station days after the situation with the inspector.
He was issued a suspension letter for over six counts which include: disobedience to a lawful order, negligence in the performance of duty, making a false statement in a police record, making a false statement against a police officer, disclosure of information concerning police administration and using a disrespectful language against a senior officer.
Consequently, he reported the matter to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) for further intervention.
“On July 28, a police boss showed up at the West Park Police post and threw a letter on my face. I decided not to be violent. I learnt that it was a suspension letter. I was suspended for declining to chase away cows and entering the truth in the OB,”he stated.
