THE POLICE FORCE

 THE POLICE FORCE

The 90's were interesting times for the young people. Youthful games were mostly outdoors and even in Nairobi, there were enough free spaces and fields of play where we enjoyed football and other creative games. The fields have been lost over the years through land grabbing including one that comes to my mind, that was illegally taken away by president Moi and given to a church which was then build on the initially marked field of play. As young high school boys those days, our biggest fear was the police whenever the dark of the night creeped in. The police used to move into estates with lorries then called 'Mariamu' and would arrest people for all manner of reasons. Every time we saw a mariamu from a distance or a group of police men approaching, we would either go back running or take the next closest corner. Facing them was dreadful. Countless times they made us sit down on the ground and that came with heavy slaps, whips or both and that, having done nothing. The only crime then was to be a young man. Many people born in late 90's may never understand this because alot of impunity by police reduced when Moi left office with the police force becoming more friendlier. Alot of reform efforts were done thereafter including establiment of IPOA to oversight and reduce excesses by the police. The police force would later become police service which meant less or no force but service to the people. 

Sadly though, the gains made over the years are being rolled back fast and furious. Under President Ruto who was a political student of Moi, the police are a new force never seen before. They can kill people at will in full view of cameras and walk out to continue working like nothing happened. That is reason why people are dying in every protest because the government has set the police against the people. It was reported that at least 19 youths were killed during saba saba protests on Monday this week. It may be argued that those killed are criminals but a good number were unarmed at the time. 

The result may be a war between citizens and police and an enmity that may cause more harm than good if nothing changes. 

Police look well instructed to stop demonstrators at all costs which in my opinion is what makes demos chaotic. Further instructions to kill is regrettable and should be condemned from all corners. 

Does someone ever ask themselves where all these lawlessness will end? Probably Christians should make more effort to pray for Kenya because, things are thick. So Christians have their work well cut out in 2 Chronicles 7:14 action, 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.' 

Or is there another way?

@ Stephen Mungai