By Salim Mutuma
A former Embu-based Senior police officer has sued the National Police Service and Inspector General of Police for unlawfully terminating his employment over allegations of causing an accident with a police vehicle.
Police constable Dickson Kibet was stationed at Itabua police station and reportedly took off with a police vehicle without permission and while drunk.
While driving the vehicle, the officer hit a private motor vehicle, another police vehicle and a Toyota Land cruiser that were in packing on January 12, 2014.
Reports indicate that Mr Kibet tried to escape after the accident but was arrested by a colleague who also recovered the vehicle keys in one of his pockets.
Upon his arraignment in court, the officer received a suspension letter that would be valid until determination of the case.
The officer was charged before an Embu court with driving under the influence of alcohol, careless driving, failing to renew his driving license and taking a motor vehicle without authority.
He was found guilty of three counts on September 8, 2017 except that of driving under influence of alcohol.According to the officer, the court directed that he be fined Sh30, 000 for the offences committed.
Four months later, he was served with a suspension letter from his bosses that stated that he would be receiving half of his salary following the court charges, and the order would be effective from the day of the ruling.
He later in July 2019 received another letter stating that he had been suspended from the police service without benefits.
The officer now wants the court to declare his dismissal unlawful and order his bosses to pay him Sh940,500 for the months he was on suspension and compensation worth Sh513,000 for unfair dismissal from employment.
He maintained that the law expects that such crimes should be dealt with by a subordinate disciplinary committee and not the court as it was done.
