By Jabali Digital
When last did you see a police officer smile, laugh or dance? For some, it is a normal occurrence based on their daily interactions with “boys and girls in blue.”
But for some, it is unheard of, by virtue of their minimal exchanges with security officers, to see them in upbeat moods. However, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, all caution was thrown to the wind as police officers and their families freely interacted with members of the public during the Kisumu Central police end year get together party at the Kisumu Police Mess, attended by the who-is-who in the Nyanza region and Kisumu County police command.
The event, hyped as an opportunity for the officers to reflect on their 2025 performance and freshen up for what seems to be a busy year ahead, saw police officers trade their trademark blue, white and jungle uniforms for civilian clothes, which helped a great deal in creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Remarkably, their “mean looking” faces were “nowhere to be seen,” replaced by “jovial, handsome and beautiful faces,” as correctly pointed out by one Ochieng Omwaa, one of the event’s co-master of ceremonies.
As police officers and members of the public freely mingled, danced, cut cakes and shared food and drinks to mark the rare get together, the gap that seemingly existed between the parties disappeared into thin air, replaced by the sweet and thick aroma of food delivered by caterers on stand-by.
Setting the mood for the occasion, Pastor Thomas Adela in his sermon themed “God will carry you through” said police officers go through a lot in their daily endeavor to protect members of the public and their property, urging them to soldier on irrespective of the storms they may encounter along the way.
Seth Ochieng Kanga, the Market Milimani Member of the County Assembly (MCA) noted that Kisumu is now one of the most peaceful places in the country, thanks to the broad-based government initiated by president William Ruto and former prime minister, the late Raila Odinga.
Compared to 2023 among other years when protests were the order of the day in Kisumu, the legislature said demonstrations no longer define the Lakeside city. “We are no longer interested in the politics of violence and demonstrations,” said Kanga, recalling how he used to dodge police officers so as to avoid arrest during the politically charged demonstrations.
“We urge investors to come, invest and create employment opportunities here. Unemployment breeds insecurity.”
Stakeholders from various sectors, among them bodaboda hailed police officers in Kisumu for employing several strategies geared toward preventing crime, including holding dialogues with community members.
“When we cooperate and speak positively about the work being done by police, we achieve a lot as far as preventing crime is concerned,” said Benson Matheka, Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Central police station.
Evelyn Nyamohanga, Nyanza police commander on her part said parents have a role to play in preventing crime. “Help us bring up a generation that is responsible,” said Nyamohanga. “Children need to be nurtured and protected. Let us not bring up our children under the ‘free-range mode’ like someone rearing chicken.”
Nyanza RC Flora Mworoa addressing the press during the police get-together. Photo/Courtesy
Flora Mworoa, Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC) who is nearing her sunset days in the public service, urged police officers to prepare for retirement. “There’s nothing like preparing 100%,” she noted. “But we can start preparing early by loving our families. When you retire, you will go back to the families you may be neglecting now.”
The RC delivered interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo’s Sh100,000 donation towards the event, alongside her Sh50,000 contribution, while Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda donated a bull as his support.
