Democracy
Kenya Police Chief: A Big Letdown
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| Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali | When Police Commissioner Major General Ali, met the Waki Commission, perhaps he ought to have given serious thought to why he was chosen as the first top government official to give submissions to the commission that is investigating the post election violence. Instead, he betrayed a disconcerting detachment from the harsh realities that characterized the post-election violence and dampened the mood of current reconciliation and reconstruction efforts. He characteristically disappointed the leadership role into which history had thrust him and will judge him.
Indeed, history has already begun to judge him. As Kenya attempts to return to the business of development through its reconciliation and reconstruction efforts, such as the very investigation of the post election violence through the Waki Commission, Major Ali’s unequivocal and arrogant assertion that given similar circumstances he would act the same way is a sure sign of ignorance of kaizen – a Japanese business principle – that one should strive for self improvement regularly.
First, problems are only good if we learn from them. The only good that can come from the post election crisis is a learning experience for all of us. Considering the deaths and injuries caused both by targeted and stray bullets from police guns, the unrepentant and unwarranted use of live ammunition on unarmed citizens to quell the post polls riots, the numerous incidences epitomised by the infamous police officer caught on camera shooting at unarmed youth in Kisumu and resultant public outcry...all these are evidence for a need of police-force to carry out introspection for self improvement.
Second, the Commissioner’s acknowledgement of a lack of preparedness of police force while also claiming that they had prior intelligence of the likelihood of such occurrence begs many questions. What was the intelligence for? Why were they unprepared? What held them back? How will they avoid a repeat of this in future? Are they really able to handle the country’s security needs? Among others, these are questions that beg answers, but questions that go unanswered.
Recently, police brutally assaulted civil right activists at city hotel for alleged illegal assembly. In retrospect, could it be that their boss’ callous attitude has cultured and fostered brutality and impunity in the police force?
By George Nyongesa
Programs Manager- Rural Integrated Community Development
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