Absolving the police

By ISAAC NEWTON KINITY
Published July 25, 2009

Kenyans and the international community should stop blaming the Kenya police and army for the crimes they are alleged to have committed. The entire world should understand the hell they have been going through and the agony of the blame for the crimes they never intended to commit.

I thank Mr. Philip Alston for his investigation and findings about the extra-judicial killings in Kenya in the last two years. A large number of Kenyans have been killed without explanation. Although Alston blamed the Kenya army and police for the crimes against humanity, I hold a different opinion. Certain facts were definitely wanting in his findings. Like other Kenyans, the police and the army, are victims of a corrupt regime and have been forced to abide by the rules of the people in power for more than two decades.

Consequently, these government agents have lived in fear, intimidation, harassment, and threat of their lives for daring to disobey orders from corrupt politicians. Among the disciplined forces in the civil service, a clique of loyalists exist, whose word is all that matters. Otherwise we have a highly disciplined and restrained police and military.

A number of prominent Kenyans were killed during President Jomo Kenyatta’s regime. The late Tom Mboya was gunned down by the late Nahashon Isaac Njenga Njoroge, allegedly a trained sharp shooter. Former Superintendent of Police, Patrick Shaw, in league with the former Commandant of the General Service Unit, Mr. Ben Gethi, obeyed the orders to kill the late J.M. Kariuki. The fate of the killers of Pio Gama Pinto, believed to have been policemen working on political orders, is unknown to this day.

During President Moi’s Regime, the fate of those who killed the late Robert John Ouko, remains a mystery. Former Superintendent of Police, Kahumbi was gunned down for disobeying orders to kill a Kenyan Publisher, and Politician Njehu Gatabaki. Former Superintendents of police, Mr. Patrick Shaw, and Mr. Ngangira were killed for refusing to obey orders to kill then Vice President of Kenya.

The fate of the suspects in the death of the British tourist Miss Julie Ward, daughter of the British Hotelier Mr. John Ward, the police officers suspected to have murdered the former Secretary of the Release Political Prisoners organization, the late Mr. Karimi Nduthu, and the police officers believed to have been behind the killing of the late Mr. Mururi, a student leader at Nairobi University, still remain a mystery. Policemen believed to have been behind these deaths, worked on orders from powerful politicians. They were later killed as a means of further cover up.

In the 60s, 70s and early 80s, the Kenyan army was adequately cared for in terms of daily up keep and equipment, but today they are desperate, vulnerable and prone to manipulation by corrupt, powerful politicians. The Kenyan police for their part, no longer enjoy good facilities, which has made them miserable and ready to play dirty for politicians.

Many Kenyans, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the donor community, and Western nations have for decades condemned corrupt leaders in Kenya and called for good governance. The African Union in 1999 resolved not to recognize undemocratic and military regimes, but is helpless in the face of rigged elections, looting of public funds, land grabbing, politically instigated chaos, and the rampant corruption in Kenya. Those who dared challenge Kenya’s record were silenced by threats or killed.

Donors and Western nations have been reminded of Kenya’s sovereignty, which has been used as a shield and protection by corrupt politicians. Since Independence in 1963, only the 1963, 1979 and 2002 elections have been free and fair in Kenya. All the others were characterized by rigging, hooliganism or chaos.

Tired of Western countries who point at their corrupt governance, Kenyan politicians have turned to the Arab Nations and Asia, especially China, who regardless of the agony and suffering caused to the Kenyan people by their own leaders, still do business with them.

Over the years incumbents in Kenyan politics have continued to recycle themselves for leadership positions in the nation, and when they are unable to, they groom their children and friends to perpetuate their ills. It is as though this clique of people is the only persons mandated for leadership in Kenya. This should sincerely come to an end.

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Tags: crime, police