Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

- The Employment and Labour Relations Court has granted 194 police officers from the Narok East sub-county the right to contest their transfers, which were issued after an incident involving the deaths of 25 sheep and an officer’s injury.

The officers, primarily from Duka Moja and Ntulele Police stations, were transferred following protests that emerged after the sheep were run over by a speeding car on the Narok-Kisii Highway on January 16.

Justice Nduma Nderi issued an order allowing the officers to apply for judicial review to revoke the transfers, which they claimed were punitive and retaliatory.

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“Leave be and is hereby granted to the applicants to apply for judicial review orders of the prohibition against the respondents from further issuing arbitrary and punitive transfer orders without following due process,” read the order.

The application was filed by lawyer Danstan Omari on behalf of Member Charo, who represents the affected officers.

The officers argue that the transfers were not only arbitrary but also violated the National Police Service Standing Orders, which mandate that officers serve at least one year in a station before being transferred.

"The transfers appear to be retaliatory and punitive, targeting officers perceived as problematic or vulnerable, contrary to established principles of natural justice," stated Omari in court documents.

Omari further argued that the transfers were issued without proper procedure, and many of the officers had only served for a month or less.

He also highlighted that the abrupt transfers had disrupted the education of the officers' children, with some being forced to drop out of school.

In addition to seeking the revocation of the transfers, the officers requested that the state provide counselling services to the affected personnel.

Omari also pointed out that the officers were not provided with any facilitation or allowances to support their relocation, which led to significant financial and logistical difficulties.

The case stems from the January 16, 2025, incident when a non-injury accident involving livestock occurred along the Narok-Mai Mahiu Highway, resulting in the deaths of the sheep.

Following the accident, the local community staged protests demanding compensation, which led to clashes with police, during which tear gas and blank ammunition were used to disperse the crowd.

The protest escalated into violence, with several officers injured, including Inspector Sarah Wavinya, who fractured her leg, and Police Constable Isaya Kagiri, whose hand was severed with a Maasai sword.

"The respondents subsequently issued mass transfer orders affecting the officers involved in handling the protests, many of whom were still recovering from their injuries," court papers stated.

The court has yet to rule on the full application, but for now, the officers' transfers remain under suspension.

In other news, Magistrate Susan Shitubi urged DCI detectives to refrain from mistreating Benson Ashiko, a Bungoma man arrested for allegedly publishing funeral photos of President William Ruto and sending a condolence message to the First Family.

The magistrate noted that Ashiko, who is asthmatic, had not received medical attention since his arrest.

She directed that he be taken to a hospital for treatment and ordered his detention for four days, with his release scheduled for January 30.

Source: TUKO.co.ke