A suspected police impersonator was arrested in Kenya this week after appearing in a live TV interview while dressed in the official uniform.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Nairobi, according to a TUKO report.
The National Police Service in Kenya also released an image of the woman on its Twitter page.
They highlighted that police grew suspicious of the woman during the incident and rushed to the TV station, where they arrested Monica Wamaitha Gitau.
"A police imposter busted at Inooro TV," the tweet by the National Police Service-Kenya page read.
A POLICE IMPOSTER BUSTED AT INOORO TV.
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) June 29, 2022
Police officers based at Kilimani Police Station today received information of an ongoing interview at Inooro TV hosting an alleged uniformed female police officer as a panelist.
Doubting the credibility of the interviewee, pic.twitter.com/eoV7Dm0E6Q
"Police officers based at Killimani Police Station today received information of an ongoing interview at Inooro TV hosting an alleged uniformed female police officer as a panelist.
"Doubting the credibility of the interviewee police officers rushed to the TV station from where they arrested Monica Wamaitha Gitau."
The follow-up tweets from the page remarked that Gitau is cooperating with police. It also called on greater background checks by those wishing to speak with police for interviews and panel shows.
"Giatu, a civilian and an aspirant for the Nairobi Women MP seat in full police uniform.
"She is currently assisting with investigations for the offense of impersonating a police officer.
"To avoid similar incidences in the future, National Police Service wishes to advise all Media Houses to always liaise for clearance with the Office of the Police Spokesperson or respective regional or county commanders over all requests for interviews with police officers."
Newsweek has contacted the Kenya Police Service for comment.
Elsewhere in the world in May, in San Antonio, Texas, a man was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office reported on May 22 that it was searching for Salvatore Alfieri IV, 38.
Alfieri allegedly showed up at a San Antonio home the previous day dressed as an officer with the San Antonio Police Department, complete with clothing bearing the department's insignia and a firearm.
Alfieri demanded entry into the home, claiming that he worked for "probation" and needed to search the premises for "contraband." Once he convinced the homeowners to comply and let him in, he reportedly confiscated their cell phones and left.
He fled the scene in a Ford Escape that was later identified using local security footage.
The sheriff's department urged the public to submit any information relevant to the case, and by Sunday it updated a Facebook post, declaring that Alfieri had been taken into custody. According to the warrant filed against him, Alfieri faces charges of unlawful restraint, interfering with an emergency phone call, impersonating a public servant, and burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony.
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About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
