West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has called for the immediate restoration of his security detail slamming security officers working in the County for his recent woes. This comes after the Kitale High Court on Monday issued a temporary injunction against his arrest for obstructing traffic police officers while executing their duties along the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway last week.
High Court Judge Hillary Chemitei also ordered that Governor Lonyangapuo’s security officers be immediately reinstated after they were withdrawn last Friday following the incident.
The West Pokot Governor found himself in trouble after storming a roadblock mounted at Safari Hotel on the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway last Wednesday evening and freed a boda boda rider who had been arrested for flouting traffic laws.
Governor Lonyangapuo, who was yesterday evening, seen in public for the first time after resurfacing due to the fear of being arrested, received a heroic welcome in Makutano town from a huge crowd that turned up to have a glimpse of their leader. He said he had been looking after his livestock in the past three days. “I got an opportunity to look after my livestock and I had missed doing. I went to Kanyerus, Losidok and Lomurita,” he said amid cheers from the crowd.
The West Pokot Governor called for the transfer of all police officers who have stayed in the area for more than ten years accusing them of mistreating locals and practising corruption in the County. He said leaders should be protected and respected, and that the residents will protect him if the government will not reinstate his security. He emphasized that he didn’t violate any law claiming that he was protecting the rights of innocent citizens, adding that boda boda operators were given an extended period to sort themselves out and police have no authority to harass them.
He called on the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to respect elected leaders and asked the County Police Commander Mathew Kuto to remove all illegal roadblocks in this area and leave only two at Tartar and Marich.
