Law catches up to police, government officials and MP for flouting curfew rules

AfricaPress-Kenya: More than 12 police officers, a Member of Parliament and a judicial officer are among hundreds of people who have been arrested and detained for flouting curfew regulations since the period started on March 27.

Some were caught taking alcohol in houses in groups, others in bars while locked inside and others on roads. Police said some of the victims have already been charged in court for flouting the set rules.

At the weekend, an MP in the city was among more than a dozen revelers who were arrested from a bar in Ruai area, Nairobi for flouting the rules. The government banned bars and restaurants from operating for fear of spreading the coronavirus pandemic.

Other reports said a judicial officer and a military officer were also detained in Embakasi area for flouting the rules. They were however released after explaining their presence at the premises they were.

Police said they also detained a city musician in Runda area for flouting the rules. He is said to have been hosting a party yesterday morning when police were called and took him to custody and those in attendance.

In Embakasi, police said they were called to a private party where 18 people were enjoying and took them to custody.A national administration officer was also arrested for flouting the rules set out. He was in a bar that also had six other revelers when police struck.

Nairobi Police boss Philip Ndolo said they will now be taking those who flout the rules to forced quarantine.“Because they are a danger to the society and they don’t want to adhere to the laid down rules, we may be forced to take some of these people to forced quarantine,” said Ndolo.

He urged the city residents to take seriously the measures put in place to curb the spread of the disease.And at least ten others are under investigations or interdiction for various offences including assault on members of the public as they enforced the curfew.

This has put spotlight on the service as authorities struggle to contain some of their rogue behavior that forced president Kenyatta to apologize to the public.

Officials say there could be more incidents that have happened, but some senior officers have not reported them as per the law to cover up the same.Most of the officers arrested were found locked in social joints with other revelers in contravention of the law on the curfew.

The latest arrests happened in Makongeni area, Nairobi last week where seven police officers were arrested from a bar that they had locked themselves enjoying drinks. Police said they were among nine people who were nabbed from Maximum Bar in the area following a complaint from the members of the public.

In Mwimuto, Nairobi, a police officer was arrested for alleged robbery from a shop in the ongoing curfew. The owner of the shop had locked it and went home only to find some of the equipment missing. Some of the missing items including mobile phones were recovered from the officer before he was arrested. Police authorities said the officer will be charged with burglary.

President Uhuru declared a dusk to dawn curfew as part of the measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country.The only persons exempted from the curfew are medical professionals, health workers, critical and essential services providers.