Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has addressed concerns over reports that police officers in many stations across Kenya request fuel from civilians when tasked with operations outside their stations.
He explained that each police station receives a monthly fuel allocation of 450 litres, which in most cases is depleted before the end of the month due to high operational demands.
Murkomen emphasized that this practice is not intended as extortion but is a practical necessity caused by resource constraints.
According to the CS, the allocation is often exhausted before the end of the month, especially in areas with higher demand for patrols or wider geographical coverage.
"Kenyans think when the police say 'leta mafuta' they actually mean leta kitu ya corruption. It's not true. The real truth is that in our leasing program, we are giving 450 litres of fuel to police officers for the entire month. If an officer is in Kibish and is picking fuel from Kitale, by the time he returns to the station, he has already consumed a huge portion of the allocation," Murkomen said.
To address these challenges, the government has launched initiatives aimed at improving police mobility and operational efficiency. Plans include the procurement of 5,000 vehicles for National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and police personnel.
Additionally, the government intends to install CCTV cameras in all 1,209 police stations within two years to enhance transparency and accountability.
Despite these measures, the practice of officers requesting fuel from civilians continues to draw attention, raising questions about the sustainability of station resources and the allocation of operational budgets.
Murkomen’s explanation sheds light on the logistical challenges faced by law enforcement and the steps being taken to mitigate them.
