In a turn of events that has really surprised not only the law enforcement but also the general public, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Kennedy Wanjala, of the Sossiot Police Station, was inappropriately dressed and urgently taken to the hospital because of a tree-hugging challenge, which surprisingly brought about a major welfare response from the top police management.
The Sossiot Police station witnessed the surreal incident when Wanjala was seen hugging a tree very tightly; this act made the unexpected crowd of people watching and the officers on duty to be worried widely. Wanjala’s colleagues quickly raised the alarm, which led to the senior commanders being involved.
The official police incident register showed that the officers stated Wanjala’s actions to be irrational; they also said that he seemed to be emotionally distressed and was not responding to the usual commands.
The senior officers got to the scene, and after talking to him for a few minutes, they decided that the case was no longer a mere public stunt but had gone deeper than that. Wanjala was then untied from the tree and taken away from the station grounds to ensure his safety and that of the public.
A report filed by the officer in charge of the criminal investigations of the sub-county showed that Wanjala was suffering from mental strain and needed immediate medical evaluation which led to his referral to a medical facility for assessment and care.
Over the past few weeks, the whole country of Kenya has noticed the tree-hugging craze which has changed from a conservation effort to a nationwide endurance challenge with mixed results.
The trend, which was first started by environmentalist Truphena Muthoni’s 72-hour tree-hugging record to bring attention to climate change, has encouraged many people from different walks of life to do similar tough activities. Doctors have all the time warned that this kind of prolonged exercise is very risky in terms of health unless one has been medically prepared.
The police in Kericho have interpreted the OCS incident mainly as a health and welfare issue and not a disciplinary one, thus emphasizing the need for mental health support in the security forces. Wanjala’s current health status is still not known, but the police welfare units are likely to organize follow-up care.
The referral has also sparked public debate about the psychological toll on police officers working in stressful situations and whether the available support is up to the task.
The rare arrest of a police officer who adhered to the rule of the police decorum for a viral social challenge has created a national concern and curiosity, with many people wondering how it would be possible for a senior police officer to do a physically demanding act publicly without getting a health clearance beforehand. Further developments are expected as the authorities keep an eye on Wanjala’s health and consider the wider effects on officer well-being and public safety.
Leave a Reply