This is in response to a letter written by an anonymous writer and published on March 24.

The writer alleged that the Police at Busia are drunkards and corrupt. I find some of the allegations wild and malicious.

The DPC of Busia, Nasur Oringa is a practising Muslim and therefore does not drink alcohol. The O/C Station, Geoffrey Kainamura Geofrey does not drink at all.

The two are some of the most highly experienced and dedicated officers in the eastern region who cannot watch their subordinates misbehaving without taking action.

Though I understand the frustration associated with the loss of a person and, or hard-earned property, the incidents highlighted in the letter had nothing to do with Police negligence.

For example, the Somali man mentioned was hit and killed instantly by unidentified thugs while he was seated at his verandah at 1:00am. In the second instance, Okumu Orek was arrested and charged with assaulting Mr. Babu and Mr. Balongo.

The alleged attack on Sudanese was not reported anywhere in Busia. However, Busia, being a border district, violent crimes have been rampant due to the porousness of the border, among other factors. The Police with the Rapid Response Unit have in the past two month recovered five guns and over 400 rounds of ammunition and property worth millions of shillings from thugs.

Idi I. Ssenkumbi
PRO, Eastern Region