Police have denied involvement in the defacing of the newly constructed Lanet Police Station in Bahati after Deputy President William Ruto opened it at the weekend. 

The multi-million-shilling facility opened on Saturday saw acts of vandalism with the plaque bearing Ruto’s name pulled down and the National Government-Constituency Development Fund branding defaced. 

At the main gate, the signage branded in National Police Service colours was removed by unknown people with residents accusing the government of sabotage. 

However, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya distanced the government from any wrongdoing, saying they have launched investigations into the incident.

Speaking at the regional headquarters accompanied by senior regional police bosses, Natembeya said security agencies were not aware of any plans to officially open the facility. 

He said they got wind on Saturday morning that Ruto was to open a project, which is directly under the security docket adding that with no prior security briefing the whole exercise was pointless. 

“It was very awkward, and seemingly no senior officer from the national or county police was informed of the opening.

Once they opened the station they left and left us wondering who it was handed over to as per the law,” said Natembeya. 

The administrator added that they later got information that the facility had been defaced and vandalised by unknown persons, insisting that the criminal acts were not the work of the government. 

He said the project ideally is supposed to be handed over to the Inspector General of Police who in turn is to assign a senior officer to grace a physical handover after the same is gazetted. 

“After satisfying all this, the project becomes government property and ceases to be personal property and it is to be protected as such,” said Natembeya. 

The administrator revealed that there were a lot of loopholes in the handover process saying no officer can occupy the facility as yet.