Eliud Lagat, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, is once again under fire, this time over missing allowances meant for police officers who provided security during CHAN matches in different stadiums across the country.
Already battling a court case that questions his suitability to remain in office, Lagat now finds himself in the middle of a financial scandal that has left hundreds of junior officers feeling betrayed and abandoned.
This new controversy adds to his already tainted image and exposes the rot in the National Police Service under his watch.
According to records and testimonies from officers who were part of the CHAN assignment, each police constable was entitled to a daily allowance of KES 3,465.
Over the 28 days of the tournament, this meant every constable was supposed to walk away with about 97,000 shillings. For officers in the rank of Police Constable (PC), the daily allowance was even higher, set at 7,700 shillings per day, which came to around 215,000 shillings at the end of the operation.
These allowances were not favors but rightful dues owed to officers who worked tirelessly to maintain law and order during an international sporting event.
However, what happened is nothing short of a scandal. Many of the officers have revealed that instead of the agreed amount, some only received a shocking 10,000 shillings for the entire 28 days.
Others claim they have not received a single cent despite sacrificing their time and effort for the operation.
Those who were paid the little money say it was handed to them in the most suspicious manner, without any formal documentation, sometimes in the corridors of Vigilance House, and without a signature to confirm receipt.
This lack of accountability has raised serious questions on how the entire payment process was handled.
The head of operations in the National Police Service is Eliud Lagat, and because CHAN was categorized as a special operation, the responsibility for all matters, including allowances, fell directly under his office.
This is why all fingers are now pointing at him. The affected officers are openly demanding answers, with one major question standing out, where did the 11 million shillings that was budgeted for their allowances disappear to?
The CHAN Local Organizing Committee has already distanced itself from the scandal, making it clear that the money was wired to the National Police Service.
The Ministry of Interior has also done the same, stating that their role ended when the funds were handed over to NPS. That leaves only one office at the center of the storm, the office led by Eliud Lagat.
This incident paints Lagat as a man at the heart of not just administrative incompetence but possible theft and abuse of office.
While police officers who risked their lives and dignity during the tournament suffer in silence, questions about corruption within the top leadership of the police service continue to mount.
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