Busia residents have welcomed the transfer of Busia Traffic police Base Commander Gerald Gitau with joy after he was moved to Naivasha.
The residents had protested through Angaza News where they had called for his immediate transfer noting that he had overstayed in Busia.
The locals also claimed that Mr Gitau was aiding and abetting smuggling of goods from Uganda to Kenya during his tenure as a Base Commander in Busia.
Some residents had earlier claimed that Gitau also owned some of the notorious Toyota Wish and Probox which are normally driven on very high speed while ferrying contraband goods to various towns outside Busia with Some allegedly causing accidents along Busia-Kisumu highway.
Boda boda operators who had earlier petitioned Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to transfer Gitau from Busia told Angaza News that they were happy the National Police Service has finally heard their concerns and acted.
They had said that for the war against smuggling in Busia to be won, Gitau must be transferred.
“There has been a formidable team of police officers who do things like they want in Busia and collect bribes day and night,” said a boda boda operator.
“Arbitration between family of a person killed in an accident and owner of the vehicle involved in a given accident has been the order of the day instead of taking the case to court for justice to be served,” he maintained.
Gitau thanked his colleagues, leaders and residents for their cooperation during his time as Base Commander in Busia.
“Busia is a cosmopolitan county and i want to thank residents for their support apart from the spirit of team work to manage security challenges,” said Gitau.
Politicians led by Busia governor Sospeter Ojaamong and his Kakamega counterpart Wyclife Oparanya organised for a farewell party for Gitau at the Itoya hotel in Busia.
Presence of Ojaamong and Oparanya sent tongues wagging with many locals wondering why the two decided to throw a party for Gitau who has not been in good terms with the residents.
It is alleged that Gitau was a darling of smugglers with politician particularly Cabinet Secretary for Devolution Eugene Wamalwa.
Sources claimed that whenever the CS was around, he would ride in Gitau’s black Prado. Some of the traffic police officers who worked under Gitau told Angaza News that they can now breath a sigh of relief.
“Many of my colleagues were fought by Gitau until they sought for transfer away from Busia. Some are in Kakamega, ” said a traffic police officer.
Oparanya regretted that some police officers still treat Kenyans as if they are not human beings.
“We are bidding farewell a man who discharged his duties diligently evident by this good turn out,” said Oparanya.
He continued, “How will they get crucial security leads without interacting with people. Even we leaders engage the people to gauge our performance.”
Ojaamong on his part challenged security agencies in Busia to treat residents in a humane way even as they enforce law and order.
“I urge our officers to have a human face when dealing with locals. Some of the offences committed are petty and just need civic education to get rid of them,” said Ojaamong.
