The Inspector General (IG) of Police, Douglas Kanja, has officially commissioned the new Chiga Police Station in Kisumu East Sub-County, describing it as a significant boost to security, service delivery, and community policing in the region.
Speaking during the official opening on Friday, Kanja noted that the newly constructed police station in Kolwa East Ward, Kisumu County, reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the country’s security infrastructure while enhancing the working environment for police officers.
He emphasized that the police station will enhance police operations and community engagement, enabling officers to respond swiftly to address security concerns.
“The new station is a major step in strengthening peace and security to support economic growth and community safety,” Kanja said, adding that security is a critical pillar for socio-economic development.
The state-of-the-art facility stands as the third brand-new police station being commissioned into service in the constituency within eighteen months.
It was constructed through funding from the Kisumu East National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) under the leadership of area Member of Parliament Shakeel Shabbir.
At the same time, Kanja further pledged the national government’s commitment to enhancing the capacity of the police service as one of the ways of prioritizing internal security across the country.
He acknowledged resource challenges, such as a shortage of police vehicles hindering the war against crime in various police stations.
The IG observed that President William Ruto’s recent pronouncement on the government’s plan to acquire 3,000 new police vehicles is a shot in the arm and will effectively address inefficiencies and improve police mobility.
He assured that the newly established stations in the constituency, including Ragumo, Kasagam, and now Chiga Police Stations, will be among the first to benefit from the new vehicles.
“We are committed to ensuring police are well resourced to ensure they serve citizens accordingly. We expect a situation where when mwananchi files a report, police are able to respond swiftly,” Kanja noted.
Kisumu East MP Shabbir revealed that another Sh30 million from the NG-CDF kitty has been put aside to build the Migosi Police Station within 6 months.
Migosi Station, he noted, will serve up to the Kibos area, where residents were initially forced to report cases to the Kasagam police station.
Shabbir emphasized that the establishment of the Chiga Police Station originated from public participation, during which residents strongly demanded a police unit to address the runaway insecurity.
The legislator cautioned criminal gangs wreaking havoc within the constituency that their days are numbered.
“Those people who have been cutting people with pangas, motorcycle robbers, and cattle rustlers, we just ask you to close shop now that we have heightened security.”
by Robert Ojwang’
