OCS, 2 chiefs interdicted over sale of chang’aa to minors
An Officer Commanding Police Station (OCS) has been interdicted alongside two local chiefs following an incident where three children were hospitalized after consuming chang’aa in Konoin constituency, Bomet County on Christmas day.
Bomet County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding announced the interdiction of Konoin OCS Richard Kipkorir Moso and the two chiefs during a baraza at Kaproret primary school grounds, a short distance from the scene where two boys and a girl were found unconscious after consuming several litres of the illicit brew hidden at a tea plantation.
The children were rushed to Kapkatet sub county hospital in the neighbouring Kericho County on Christmas day and were discharged on Thursday.
“Mogosiek Chief David Langat and Ngererit assistant chief Benjamin Chirchir have been interdicted with immediate effect,” Mr Omoding said at the meeting attended by County Security committee members led by County Commander Mrs Naomi Ichami.
FURTHER NOTICE
Mr Omoding added, “Mr Andrew Chepkwony, the Mosonik locational chief and Mrs Emily Ngetich of Saseta sub location will act respectively in the positions of the suspended administrators until further notice as investigations is being undertaken against the officers.”
The interdiction of the OCS was communicated later by the County Commissioner who indicated that the senior police officer had failed to act on the matter, did not send incident briefs to his bosses and had failed to crack down on the illicit brews.
Mr Omoding said the government would deal decisively against chiefs and police officers who fail to crack down against consumption of illicit brews in their respective regions.
Mr Omoding was implementing a directive from Dr Fred Matiangi, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Interior and Coordination of National Government, who demanded that disciplinary action be taken against the officers.
Dr Matiangi on Wednesday directed Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Mongo Chimwaga to facilitate investigations with a view to taking immediate disciplinary action against area chiefs and their assistants for dereliction of duty.
Bomet County is split into five administrative sub counties – Bomet Central, Bomet East, Konoin, Sotik and Chepalungu – which have 66 locations and 174 sub locations manned by a similar number of administrators.