Much has been said about the tragic death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. No one should ever lose their life, least of all, at the hands of those sworn to uphold the law. While numerous theories continue to swirl, some bordering on the fantastical, I trust that the truth will eventually emerge and that justice will be served.
Even at this time of grief, it is inappropriate for members of the political class to exploit a family’s profound loss for personal or political mileage. The wailing from some quarters brings to mind Enoch, the character from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, described as “the outsider who wept louder than the bereaved.”
It is one thing to criticise the failures of the National Police Service (NPS); it is quite another to tarnish the entire institution through sweeping generalisations. Yes, the NPS has its flaws-some of them serious-but it is not the irredeemable institution it is often portrayed to be. The reality is that our officers operate in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable, often without even the most basic equipment or support. Despite this, they continue to serve.
There are, in fact, many officers who conduct themselves with honour and professionalism. Consider the traffic officers in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, frequently praised online for directing traffic diligently-even in harsh weather-without bribes, colloquially known in Kenya as TKK. These officers exemplify the public service ethos we wish to see across the board.
Moreover, let’s not forget that the NPS plays a vital role in safeguarding our cities. When the Kenya Kwanza administration took office, Nairobi was grappling with a spike in street muggings. Today, the city-and indeed many others across the country-feels noticeably safer. These gains, though easy to take for granted, are the result of deliberate police efforts.
To demonise the entire police force because of a few rogue elements is not only intellectually lazy but dangerous. Such generalisations erode respect for law enforcement and embolden lawlessness. We saw this recently in London, Nakuru West, where a young man armed with a machete was filmed confronting police officers. Days later, during the national budget protests, demonstrators attempted to overpower armed officers. Parts of the city descended into chaos with properties looted and vehicles torched.
While some of this public anger may stem from legitimate grievances, much of it is inflamed by misleading rhetoric. Take, for example, activist Hanifa Adan’s claim in Sunday Nation that “a man is more likely to be killed by the police than by a criminal”. This is factually incorrect. Between 2019 and 2021, Kenya recorded 9,288 homicides compared to approximately 500 reported police killings. Yet, inflammatory statements like hers often gain wider traction than verified statistics.
Undoubtedly, police reform remains necessary. The departure from police force to service as recommended by the Ransley report is yet to be fully attained. One hopes that the unshackling of the police from the political class will be completed soon. That way, the public trust deficit that currently obtains can be resolved. That notwithstanding, we must pursue accountability through legal, truthful and measured means – not peddling exaggerations that risk destabilising an already fragile peace. Our safety and societal cohesion depend on it.
Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst
By Leonard Khafafa