5 instances which proves why the Kenyan police may indeed be one of the worst in the world
The 2016 World Internal Security and Police Index (Wispi) which was released by the International Police Science Association and the Institute for Economics and Peace ranked Kenyan Police at position 125 out of 127 countries.
The 2016 World Internal Security and Police Index (Wispi) which was released on Saturday by the International Police Science Association and the Institute for Economics and Peace ranked Kenya police service at position 125 out of 127 countries.
Wispi ranks countries based on the ability of the police and other security providers in dealing with security issues.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has similarly also indicted the Kenyan police over several atrocities the force committed in the aftermath of the August General elections that left reportedly 67 Kenyans dead.
Kenya’s police inspector general, Joseph Boinnet has however dismissed the report saying the group that spearheaded the report could not be trusted.
"I don't agree with the report because we even don't know who the sources are. The owners cannot be trusted," Mr Boinnet said on Sunday evening through a phone call.
However, here are five instances which indicts the Kenyan police and shows why indeed it may be one of the worst in the world.
Baby Pendo murder
Six months old Samantha Pendo lost the fight for life after five days in coma.
Baby Pendo was critically injured on the head by armed police officers who raided her parents’ house in Nyalenda in Kisumu town during a door-door operation after demonstrations against the outcome of the presidential elections.
9-year-old girl, Stephanie Moraa Nyarangi, was also shot dead while standing on the balcony of her family’s apartment in Nairobi.
Nursery school kids being teargased
In October, three nursery school children sustained injuries as they stormed out of their classes after anti-riot police lobbed tear gas canisters at St Peter’s Awich Kodingo ECDE in Nyalenda slums Kisumu County
A few days later, At least 20 nursery pupils were rushed to a Kisumu hospital after they were teargassed and sprayed with water cannons.
The minors from Mount Carmel Academy in Nyalenda were caught up in the National Super Alliance (NASA) demos with anti-riot police firing teargas in their classrooms.
You would expect a well-trained police service to know how to handle situations where minors are involved and not aimlessly lob teargas everywhere.
University of Nairobi
University grounds are considered a safe haven for students and scholars only interrupted by Eureka moments after breakthroughs but not to Kenyan police.
Last month, the Kenyan police entered the university of Nairobi grounds after the students had protested the arrest of former student leader and Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino and proceeded to frog march and beat up the students and lecturers alike leaving over 20 students nursing serious injuries.
Despite amateur footage of the incident being available no police officer has been held accountable and the Inspector General while responding to the claims of police brutality said that "making the students frog jump was part of calming down the situation".
The University was later indefinitely closed down.
Bunty Shah cold murder
Mr Bunty Shah, the only son of Mr Vipin Shah – the owner of Bobmil Industries Limited – was shot by police offices under unclear circumstances last month at his family’s home in Westlands, Nairobi County.
In what is suspected to be a botched police operation, Kenyan police drove through the gate and without warning executed Shah.
Family and close friends who witnessed the incident say he was shot gangland style yet he did not resist at all.
The Kenyan police initially denied claims that police officers were involved in the operation, only a few days later to come out clean after Inspector General confirmed the police had indeed shot Mr. Shah.
In a country governed by laws which dictate that everyone is innocent until proven guilty why should the Kenyan police become the judge jury and executioner and proceed to execute ordinary Kenyans in cold blood without due process?
Laikipia cow massacre
The Kenyan law clearly states that everyone ought to respect not only other people's right but their property as well, not the Kenyan police though.
Hundreds of cattle’s belonging to Maasai pastoralist community were shot dead by the police during a confrontation between herders and security officers early this month.
The Police claim that the herders used the cows as shields during the gunfight after the said herders invaded a private ranch however it is surprising that not even one herder was shot or arrested during the incident.
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