The Lamu Women Alliance has built a ramp at the Lamu Central police station to ease of movement for special needs people, the elderly and children.
The organisation says the Sh230,000 structure not only seeks to make the station accessible for all but also foster good a relationship between the police and the community.
The station is on a slope, making access strenuous and tiring especially for the elderly and disabled persons.
Speaking when they handed over the ramp to the police on Tuesday, the alliance's chairperson Raya Famau said the structure will serve the police and community.
“We hope to continue with the good relationship between the police and our community. Let’s work together to make Lamu better,” Famau said.
She asked the relevant authorities to open a gender desk in stations across the county to enable police effectively deal with issues of gender violence.
The alliance also called for the posting of more female officers in the county.
There is only one female officer at the Lamu Central police station.
“We want a gender desk and also want more women officers because some issues require a woman-to-woman approach,” Famau said.
Lamu county police commander Moses Murithi acknowledged the good gesture from the alliance saying the ramp would go a long way in helping the police and community.
Murithi admitted to a shortage of female officers in many parts of Lamu and promised to have more posted.
He also promised to look into establishing a gender desk at police stations.
“There is a shortage of female officers and we are looking into it together with Woman Rep Ruweida Obbo. Above all, let’s remember that security starts with you and me. The ramp will form part of our annual report,” Murithi said.
Lamu central police station OCPD Geoffrey Osanane urged the community to not fear police officers saying they are also human.
“What you have done for us should go into the Guinness book of records because it rarely happens. Fear not police officers but rather join us in making the society better," he said.
-Edited by SKanyara