Bar owners in Bungoma town are protesting against the officer commanding Bungoma south police over his exessive love for bribes and promotion of impunity. The liqour sellers are accusing the station OCS whom they identify as Mr. Odongo of collecting bribes from clubs in order to allow the clubs to operate freely even beyond the permitted hours as he turns a blind eye on criminal activities.
They claimed that the OCS has been targeting big clubs that generate income where he is said to be collecting handsome bribes as he allows the owners to circumvent the law while being strict on on smaller joints.
He has been lambasted the OCS for victimizing small bar owners by arresting revelers and locking them up in police cells from where they are later released after paying whatever amount he demands.
Bar owners are now calling on relevants authorities to transfer corrupt Odongo from Bungoma and replace him with a disciplined and competent OCS.
He has concentrated on collecting bribes while crime rate has skyrocketed in parts of Bungoma town with allegations that he is giving criminals police bond and not producing them in court.
One police officer attached to the station revealed that suspects from Odongo’s tribe are given free police bond and records from the police indicate that most of the notorious criminals are from the OCS’s tribe who roam the town menacingly and harass law abiding citizens.
The business community of Bungoma has also requested the Interior cabinet secretary Kindiki Kithure to swing into action swiftly and have their plight resolved by replacing Odongo.
