This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
On the Kenya-Ethiopia border, a police officer's selfless act has gone viral, showcasing the dedication of Kenya's law enforcement officers.
Police Constable Jairus Mulumia was posted to Forole Primary School to provide security, but when teachers failed to show up due to insecurity, he took matters into his own hands.
Eleven people had been killed by suspected Ethiopian militia, and the situation was dire. However, Constable Mulumia noticed that Grade Five pupils were idle and decided to act.
He went to the class to teach mathematics, and a photo of the police officer in his combat uniform solving Math problems on the board went viral on social media.
Interestingly, only girls were in class the day the photo was taken. Constable Mulumia, who is also a trained teacher, is reluctant to comment about the incident, citing his position does not permit him to speak to the media.
However, he did say that he is unaware that his photo has gone viral and that he will be able to give further details once he has authorization from his bosses.
Constable Mulumia's actions have been commended by his bosses, who say the move is a reflection of the ongoing police reforms. Eastern Regional Police Commander Eunice Kihiko and Marsabit Police Commander Steve Oloo have praised the officer for using his professional training to fill the gap left by teachers.
PC Mulumia lives up to the adage that once a teacher always a teacher. He has been taking up lessons where teachers fail to report to duty to ensure that pupils do not miss out on their education.
Forole town has been hit by a wave of attacks by militia from Ethiopia, with over 20 residents killed and over 120 children quitting school due to fear of more attacks.
