Kenyans voted overwhelmingly in 2010 for the new constitution which was promulgated on 10 of August that year.

One of the rights enshrined in the new constitution is the right to not to be tortured either physically or psychologically.

However if you walk to the average police station for service, Police will really torture you psychologically if you do not bribe them to attend to you.

Eunique, 23 had a car wreck and was forced to go to the police to get an abstract in order for the insurance to cover the repairing cost.

One of the Police officers in Kasarani police station asked her to pay Ksh. 10000 in order to get the free service guaranteed by the constitution.

With no thought she declined to pay because it was unlawful and also very contradictory that you have to pay for your rights.

She never expected what ensued thereafter. She spent five hours in the station walking from one office to the next without any help.

Through this time the officers were hurling all kinds of demeaning insults towards her. She had no option but to go to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) who told her to come the next morning.

The OCS managed to talk to the head of the traffic department who decided “out of mercy” to expedite her case and give her a simple abstract.

However even after Eunique fulfilled the required conditions by law, they still wasted six hours of her time through delays.

One police officer who sought anonymity said the goal is to frustrate you till the only option left is to dish out money to them.

Mr. Evans also had a similar case. He was wounded in an accident while on his super bike.

When he went to the Industrial Area Police Station he declined to bribe the officers for them to serve him.

It took a very long three days before he could be attended to by the police.

“Every time they used to tell me, Kuja Lunch time (Come during lunch time). When I go they tell me Kuja kesho (come tomorrow),” said an angry Evans.

The theme of the Police service is Utumishi Kwa wote. They should live up to the theme and serve instead of asking for bribes.

One police officer who also sought anonymity said that he’d like to give Evans service but he has to get money to give to his boss.

The Onyango led National Police Service Commission should look into their customer service and clean the already rotten system.