UASIN GISHU, Kenya – The circumstances surrounding the establishment of unauthorised police patrol bases by a civilian in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, have taken a new twist after the building was converted into a bar.
General Collins Chepkuley is the man who attempted to set up the patrol base, a move that garnered attention from the residents of Cherus, also in Kesses Sub-County, defending him after he was accused of similar actions.
But three months later, things are different. The building has received a new coat of paint despite initially being painted in police colours to serve as a police station.
Residents are now calling upon the government through the National Police Service (NPS) to consider making the police station operational in a bid to boost security in the area.
“If this police patrol base had been in operation, it could have helped us a lot. We have our school-going children who hide at the trading centre instead of going to school. But if we had police officers here, they could have saved us from such,” said Eunice Kirole, a resident of Cherus.
Eunice lamented that recently, a herd of livestock was stolen from a nearby forest while grazing and was later found elsewhere.
“So, if we don’t have police officers, who is going to ensure our security is guaranteed? Please, we are pleading with the government to deploy security officers here because this is now a fast-developing urban centre. We have a hospital that is coming up,” she added.
Why are the traders at the Cherus trading centre a worried lot
She decried the continuous burglaries into shops due to a lack of police officers in the area.
“We also have some shops here that have been broken into and vandalised. As female traders operating in this market, we are supposed to close business by 8 p.m., but this is impossible due to insecurity. We are forced to go back home by 6 p.m. because of insecurity,” Eunice added.
Another resident disclosed that the building didn’t belong to the government, as it had been rented.
“After being painted in police colours, no police officer was sent here. So, the owner decided to give it away to a new proprietor, thus being converted into a bar. However, we still have a major challenge with insecurity. We still need this police patrol base. We have an idle piece of land that can be used for the construction of a new police station,” said the resident.
While reacting to the new development in a statement seen by Y News, General Chepkuley said he founded the patrol base due to a surge in criminal activities in the area.
He disclosed that a few days ago, a vehicle was stolen 2 km away from the to-be patrol base.
“The distance from where the patrol base was to the current police station is 10km away, at Kamuyu Police Post. The current station is located south of Cherus, and during the rainy season, it’s impossible to access the station due to poor roads,” General Chepkuley lamented.
What are the demographic statistics of the Cherus trading centre
He claimed that the Kamuyu Police Post has few police officers who also suffer from alcoholism.
“They drink day and night. The station doesn’t have an official for mobility. The other mother station near Cheboror Patrol base is in the southeast of Cherus (Kondoo Police station), which is 14 km away, located along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway, and it also lacks an official vehicle for mobility purposes,” he further said.
General Chekupley said the subcounty police headquarters (Kesses) is 21km away south of Cherus and they only have a single vehicle that was previously operated by the Kondoo police station. The said vehicle patrol across the entire sub-county.
Cherus area where Cheboror patrol base was established has a total population of 14,000 people, 10 schools ,3 dispensaries and 4 secondary schools according to General Chepkuley.
“Ladies and gentlemen, with all the above reasons, is it a police station? Was it a mistake to help the government establish the base as the community?” posed Chepkuley.
He regretted that the police post never operated after being painted in police colours.
“The newly crowned chief is currently renting his office few meters from our base and the same chief refused to call for public participation when the community needed to forward there minutes asking for security meaning there are a lot of complaints I can’t mention all of them,” he added.
Why General Chepkuley chose to have the Cherus police post closed
Due to business increments, shortage of permanent houses, and also high population, General Chepkuley revealed that alongside the proprietor of the building, they jointly agreed to surrender the patrol base and give it out to an interested businessman who would later convert it into a bar.
“This is because no one saw the importance of security in the area. A few days after this, a resident’s house was torched by unknown people. All I can say is that it is now getting out of hand, and members of the public are policing themselves. They are taking the law literally into their arms,” added General Chepkuley.
His appeal now to the government through Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is to ensure the establishment of the police post.
“At least, you can dispatch at least 5 police officers to man the station. Some of us volunteered to pay rent for that station until the government would set up its own but no one saw the sense into it. If you ask me, I will say, give us a go ahead we build our station. We even have enough land allocated for a police station and dispensary,” explained General Chepkuley who had promised to furnish the station with a police patrol vehicle.
The station, which included detention cells and an office, is said to have been in operation for over six months. Police discovered the illegal facility on March 8, 2025, and reported the matter to the Kamuyu Police Post.
According to the National Police Service Act 2014, only the Inspector General of Police has the authority to designate police stations, patrol bases, and other administrative and operational command areas in Kenya.
