A curious trend is cropping up in Kenya between the police and the public.
While it is not entirely new, the rate at which it is happening needs to be checked. In the last month, there have been recorded cases of citizens attacking police officers.
In Narok, there was a claim that a police commander was kidnapped and his gun stolen outside his home. He was later found abandoned near a river and his loaded gun was not recovered. He was lucky to be found alive. Others have not been so lucky.
A traffic police officer died after being run over by a motorist in Mombasa county. The normal traffic check turned tragic when the motorist grabbed the officer’s arm and dragged him across the tarmac, according to the police report. Julius Marwa was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Rumuruti deputy OCS Prosper Wandera was stabbed to death by an illicit brewer. He had been following a lead on a den where jerrycans were said to have been delivered for the illegal trade.
In these cases, the officers were going about their business when tragedy struck from unlikely sources.
Hostile working environments are not new to the police officers. During submissions to the David Maraga-led Police Task Force, officers maimed in the line of duty accuse the force of neglecting them. Northeastern police officers also claimed they live in shacks and have been forgotten by the government. In the same beat, security personnel deployed in bandit prone areas have been facing attacks from the militia because of local sympathizers.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome should take up the task to integrate national policing and community policing. This way, law abiding citizens will not be afraid of the police. The police will also be more in touch with the people. This way, saving lives will be a two-way street. It will not be a foreign concept for the police and the citizens to collaborate to fight crime.
There are a lot of questions regarding the state of our country and the way forward. While some say we are moving in a good direction, others are not so sure about it. This discontent on a section of the public has led to palpable exasperation both on and offline. Maybe this is why some people are comfortable letting their frustration out on the police. They forget that in the end, we are all in the same boat. While there are rotten members of the police force, there are also some who are normal citizens trying to earn a living in this uncertain time.
The change in uniform has people asking about the empty coffers narrative peddled by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua since Kenya Kwanza took power. However, it was one of their campaign promises to the police force. The deputy president famously likened the old royal blue uniform to the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Women Guild’s gowns.
True to some online sentiments, upgrading the police service to be both efficient and effective should be top priority. Recruitment of more officers into the force, better pay, better housing, mental health advocacy and such are the ideal basic needs for the people in the service. Realistically, this might not be achieved any time soon.
While presiding over the passing out parade at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri county, President William Ruto promised comprehensive medical insurance cover for the police and their families. He also asked that the police housing issue is followed up on and fast tracked. Further, the new police recruits should be provided with new uniforms at the government’s expense.
A few days ago, the President pledged that the National Police Service will receive Sh20 billion to boost ability on air, and ground capabilities during the official opening of Border Police Level 4 Hospital in Kanyonyo, Kitui county. The formation of a new police unit to curb banditry will provide more opportunities for the police. A few more jobs will be created in that way.
We can bash the government till the cows come home. They have a whole lot to fix and accomplish. We will continue to hold them responsible at every turn. Before the big promises are achieved, and we hope they will be, let us try to look at the bright side. Any brighter side will do.
As we wait and watch, let us also keep records. The government promised accountability. We should hold them to it. Kenya belongs to every single one of us. The maiming and killing of the people supposed to protect us is a slippery slope to a situation we might not be able to walk back on.