Something doesn’t add up: Why are our police being killed like chicken?
Posted Monday, November 12, 2012 | By MACHARIA GAITHO
IN SUMMARY
- The bosses at police headquarters must get off their backsides and deploy all the forces at their command towards arresting and punishing the criminals responsible for the Baragoi massacre.
- The massacre also comes at a time when the security edifice is being rocked by threatened strikes by police officers over poor pay and working conditions.
- Even chiefs, who are part of the security structure under the Provincial Administration, have been on some well-publicised marches and pickets demanding assurances over their jobs in the new devolved government dispensation.
- The other day, it was Tana River where a bunch of raw recruits were slaughtered. Now it is Baragoi, and we will go into so much gnashing of teeth.
- We must act now, and a major action alongside pouring policemen into the conflict zone will be serious reform of the Police Force.
The Kenya Police Service has suffered what must be the darkest day in its history. Forty-two officers pursuing a band of cattle-rustlers were ambushed and mown down by gun-fire.
Only in societies wracked by civil war and banditry can men and
The Kenya Police Service has suffered what must be the darkest day in its history. Forty-two officers pursuing a band of cattle-rustlers were ambushed and mown down by gun-fire.
Only in societies wracked by civil war and banditry can men and women in uniform face such attacks from armed brigands.
Policemen wear the crown and carry the flag that radiates the power of the State. In civilised society, the State is supposed to hold and jealously guard a monopoly on violence. Criminal gangs challenge that monopoly with the knowledge that they will face severe reprisals.
But in Kenya, criminals can operate with impunity. They can challenge the full power of the State and turn the forces of law and order into sitting ducks for target practice.
This situation is totally unacceptable. The bosses at police headquarters must get off their backsides and deploy all the forces at their command towards arresting and punishing the criminals responsible for the Baragoi massacre.
At the same time, an urgent investigation is called for. Obviously, there were command and operational failures that allowed policemen to be led to slaughter.
We might find that it is not just a localised failure here, but an indication of the general rot within the police. As we say, a fish starts rotting from the head.
This may be a coincidence, but it is notable that the slaughter took place as interviews were continuing for the recruitment of a new-look police boss.
Everybody wants to be a General these days, and the Commissioner of Police will now be called the Inspector-General supported by two deputies responsible for the regular police and the Administration Police.
The massacre also comes at a time when the security edifice is being rocked by threatened strikes by police officers over poor pay and working conditions.
Even chiefs, who are part of the security structure under the Provincial Administration, have been on some well-publicised marches and pickets demanding assurances over their jobs in the new devolved government dispensation.
The restless policemen have been warned that mutiny carries extremely serious consequences. The irony is that those issuing the warnings from Police Headquarters and the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administration are themselves guilty of promoting and sponsoring mutiny.
Not too long ago, Vigilance House was the stage for well-choreographed press conferences where the police top brass made it clear that they would not countenance the appointment of a civilian Inspector-General. Their relentless message was that uniformed officers would not accept orders from one appointed from outside their ranks.
And on the ongoing protests by chiefs across the country, it seems obvious to me that the mutiny is not spontaneous. It is sponsored and co-ordinated from a central command, and that can only be Harambee House, which is the nerve centre for the detritus fighting to retain powers that will be lost through devolution.
We see a situation where the mandarins in the administration and security apparatus encourage mutiny in support of selfish interests; yet sending those same foot-soldiers to be cannon fodder in botched operations.
The other day, it was Tana River where a bunch of raw recruits were slaughtered. Now it is Baragoi, and we will go into so much gnashing of teeth.
We must act now, and a major action alongside pouring policemen into the conflict zone will be serious reform of the Police Force. This must happen despite the well-documented resistance from the comfortable bosses, and therefore, can only be driven by an outsider.
Kenyans deserve a police service that can tame manic road behaviour; neutralise criminal gangs; catch and jail white-collar criminals, and ensure general peace and security in every corner.
The last is very important, for Kenya also deserves a government that will ensure there are no neglected badlands where the State does not exist and armed bandits, cattle-rustlers and terrorists hold sway.
That is more than half of Kenya.
mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.com
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