Criminologist, Security Expert and Communication Consultant Elcana Jacob/ HANDOUTThe trust between police officers and Kenyan citizens has been completely depleted by the recent events that have put the country to global shame.
The raging animosity, brought forth by both parties, has put the country on the edge-with drums of anarchy and a state of lawlessness taking over.
We have seen shocking incidents of police brutality like the shooting of Boniface Kariuki, the young soul who was on the streets selling facemasks.
The murder of blogger Albert Ojwang was the most catastrophic, a brutal decision ever made.
Since independence, police brutality, corruption, and a lack of accountability in the force have contributed largely to the depleted trust.
The relationship is now strained; citizens are willing to engage in violent clashes with the police.
On the other side, we have a section of the public who have misunderstood the whole concept of democracy, especially on citizen rights, the limits to such rights and respect to humanity.
Citizen aggression against police officers is not a bad thing but it should never be provocative and one that goes beyond the constitutional stipulations.
We have seen violent protests, pickpockets, muggers, and goons masquerading as innocent protestors.
These characters should never be condoned by anyone who loves the country because their rightful place is jail.
The standard practice for any peaceful protest is always to stay calm, focused, and peaceful with the sole purpose to make a point and delivering your message to the target recipient.
Protestors who respect the law will never provoke or become agitators with the intention to riot.
Young Kenyans struggling to make ends have to part with whatever little they have anytime they come face to face with officers.
Our governance system has also made the matter worse because our officers are rarely held accountable for misconduct. This has to end if we have to make positive strides.
Let our officers completely shun extrajudicial killings, unnecessary harassment of citizens, especially in urban areas.
Let them remember that in case of citizen aggression, they become the first victims, and this has negative consequences for them.
As a nation, it is time to review our community policing initiative, which was meant to foster trust between police officers and the public.
This is because the public still needs police officers on a day to day business because of the criminal threats within society.
On the other hand, we must advocate for improved training and reforms within the police force, and this should go hand in hand with civic education for the public.
This should involve de-escalation techniques, cultural sensitivity, and ethical decision-making.
Our officers must initiate genuine engagement with communities, listening to their concerns, and working collaboratively to address issues in a manner that echoes cohesiveness.
The Writer is a Criminologist, Security Expert and Communication Consultant.
