Kitengela residents fundraise to revive stalled police Land Cruiser

On Wednesday, members of the Kitengela Inter-Estates Liaison Association (KIELA) and the Kitengela-Municipality Alliance of Residents' Associations (K-MARA) inspected the vehicle at Kajiado Police Station, accompanied by OCPD Isinya.

The vehicle, which has been out of service for several years, will now be transferred to Kitengela for repairs spearheaded by the local community.

In a statement to residents, KIELA's Head of Security, Mr. Shabram Athman, highlighted the significance of the project, stating that restoring the vehicle would provide a much-needed boost to police patrols and response efforts.

“The Toyota Land Cruiser is a durable and reliable workhorse, perfectly suited for Africa’s rugged terrain. Putting it back on the road will directly strengthen security capacity in Kitengela and surrounding areas,” Athman said.

The restoration plan has been laid out in phases, beginning with the replacement of basic parts such as the oil filter, engine oil, and a new battery to test the vehicle’s viability. 

Subsequent stages will involve clutch and gearbox inspection, differential servicing, suspension checks, tyre replacement, and finally, body and interior refurbishment.

“This project is about empowering our police to do their job more effectively while fostering a stronger partnership between the community and law enforcement,” one resident remarked.

The move comes amid growing concerns over delays in government-funded equipment maintenance, which often leaves rural and peri-urban police posts ill-equipped to tackle crime.

The associations are now calling on residents and businesses to contribute towards the restoration costs. Once repaired, the Land Cruiser will immediately be deployed for patrols, giving police greater mobility to access hard-to-reach areas.