Police Spokesperson, Bruno Shioso has revealed the service is unable to arrest politicians violating Covid-19 guidelines set by the Ministry of Health.
In an interview with a local television, Shioso agreed the enormousness of some rallies organised by the politicians has made it difficult for the police to enforce the law.
While responding to questions from members of the public, Shioso explained that the large number of people who turn up for political rallies without observing the set regulations is to blame.
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Kenyans pressed the spokesperson to clarify why the police were silent on such gatherings, while they were ruthless in enforcing other measures such as dusk to dawn curfew.
“With the election period fast approaching, people are gathering in large numbers and there is really not much you can do in such a situation. So we are just trying to be responsive while analysing the situation. I am not trying to say what they are doing is legal because it isn’t,” Shioso said.
Shioso further said they have tried to issue statements to caution politicians and the public at large caught violating the COVID-19 protocols, but their efforts have proofed futile.
“We’ve been issuing press statements, but at times the gatherings are just too large and that is a challenge. If a gathering is small enough, we will arrest all persons involved,” Shioso said.
Despite the ban, the gatherings have been going on in various parts of the country, with 2022 presidential hopefuls being at the center of it.
Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, released a statement on October 4, 2021, announcing the extension on the ban of all physical and political gatherings, as well as the dusk to dawn curfew for another 30 days.
Asked why they have not taken action against the politicians who have gone against the ban, Shioso was quickly to note the police force takes its orders from the law and not from political dignitaries as some people try to suggest.
“We don’t work in favour of politicians. We are there for the rule of law, and we are supposed to operate fairly and passionately,” Shioso said
