Behind Bars: The Urgent Call for Hygiene and Health at Ruaraka Police Station

Kenya Police logo. PHOTO/Kibochi Karanja.

Serious water-born diseases are looming at Ruaraka Police Station remandees if serious action is not taken.

What I experienced while in their custody for two days was posing danger for those detained in the cells.

In the early morning of Saturday, I was arrested at Allsopps Roundabout for crossing the road where I was not supposed to cross.

The police officer who handcuffed me, said “You are risking your life despite signalling you not to cross but rather use the footbridge but you assume,” said the female officer after the arrest.

My journey towards Ruaraka Police Station started there.

Several other people were arrested and after teaming up for a good number we were taken to the cell.

Everybody was searched, and ordered to remove one shoe and whatever was in their pockets that is money, keys, watches and any other item not allowed when one is held in custody.

At the reporting desk, before I headed to the cell, I could smell a foul smell which filled the air.

When I was taken in, I was shocked to see the capacity in that single room filled to the brim wondering where to step inside.

There were about 50 inmates some standing and others were sitting and others standing desperately along the short corridor of about three metres long and one meter wide.

At about one meter from the single-room cell’s door, was the door heading to the two toilets and a birth room where all the doors were Brocken hence remained widely open.

For the two days I spent there no water was running from the taps.

The toilets were clogged since the remandees continued to relieve themselves and the urine was almost everywhere.

Whenever you want to relieve yourself, you borrow one shoe from a fellow inmate trod on the urinated floor and return leaving footprints behind you.

During the day, we were served Ugali and cabbages and supper was served rice and beans whereby no water was offered to wash our hands which became your spoon whilst the same kept in contact with the same floor.

I would urge the government to consider those people because they are human beings despite being allegedly accused of different offences.

The government can supply water tanks to Ruaraka police station which can be used to reserve water, especially for hygienic purposes to prevent the dangers which can result from the kind of environment I experienced.