While COVID – 19 is still wreaking havoc all over the world the Kenyan police have not painted themselves in Gold. The latest from their playbook now is the shooting of Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip’s father on Sunday.
According to the Senator, the police from Doldol Police Station located in Laikipia County injured Mr. David Kiwaka. He alleged the police were trying to make an arrest over failure to wear a face mask. Senator Anwar said the brutality was unwarranted and condemned the incident.
“My father has been shot and injured in the leg by police officers from Doldol Police Station in Laikipia County and was taken to Nanyuki Cottage,” Mr. Anwar said in a brief statement to the media.
“I am currently in Nanyuki following on the matter. Justice must prevail for my father,” Mr Anwar added.
“I am calling on speedy investigation and the arrest of the officer involved,” Mr. Anwar said in a brief statement to the media.
This follows a plethora of many other incidences involving the police that raises the question as to whether the police are offering help to Kenyans or offering even more agony beside the Coronavirus pandemic.
Early on as COVID – 19 was laying its roots on Kenyan soil there was always the threat of how Kenyans would respond to the warning and precautionary measures put in place in the wake of the world-conquering pandemic.
The steps the police took to force people to obey the rules in the early stages especially in Nairobi and Mombasa County amid the stubbornness of the masses were unwarranted.
It seems Kenyans are people who may always want proof even in the face of the Novel Coronavirus but the government did well in this period especially in the sensitization of Kenyans.
Admittedly, there was always the threat of Kenyans not taking this seriously and the country ending up in a state of chaos with unfathomable infection numbers.
However, the police showed in broad daylight what we have known all along – that we need police reforms.
The reason why we have devolution after sweeping changes to the constitution but not police reforms is appalling.
There is no fault in the structure of the police force based on the constitution but instead, we need to make changes. Skilled armor users are good but having an educated policeman well versed in psychology and assessment of situations while following orders is something Kenyans have craved over the years.
Shouldn’t Kenyans be having the best police force in terms of delivery of service to Kenyans? If you asked this to any Kenyan they could be glad to compare their policemen and women to those in the USA or at least the respectful ones in our neighboring Tanzania whom you can expect a “Twaomba Tukutie Mbaroni” from them before an arrest.
The harsh nature the police force has laid bare what we have always feared from them but Kenyans deserve better.
Instead of associating our great police officers with forceful disruption of protests using brutal means like hot water, teargases, and what have you, we should be inclined towards a western version of the police force. Much like the inclination of our own constitution.
The thing about “Counties” and “Governors” is something we borrowed from elsewhere. Honestly, it is a good thing and Kenyans want more of the same in the police force and perhaps in all other areas that need reforms.