The Kenyan government never cease to amaze. Either they are clueless on the functions of its arms and institutions or the regime is just straight up indifferent to the happenings sanctioned by those in office.
Addressing allegations of police abductions, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said, “I don’t see the reason as to why at this point in time there should be such things such as abductions by the police, for what reason? We cannot confirm if they actually happened but if they did, action will be taken to remedy the situation going forward.”
“We cannot confirm if they actually happened…” he says.
What is the colour of grass? The sky? How does water taste? These are the questions Mwaura should be answering. Like the sand in the seas, so is the evidence of police abduction of civilians in broad daylight. Abductions that are so rampant that the high court issued a ruling stipulating police conduct, as if the constitution were just a footnote in police operating procedures.
The president has said time without number that there would be no police abductions or extrajudicial killings in his regime, however, his words have proven to be hot air, a fart in the wind. Not only has he used the police to exert political persecution against his opponents, but also sanctioned the terrorism of the youth by the same service.
Just the other day, jimmy Wanjigi’s home was raided in the middle of the night by a contingent of police despite the court giving a cease and desist order barring his arrest. Moreover, during the recent youth protests, the Kenya School of Law president Joshua Okayo was abducted by the police and tortured for 48 hours. He was later found unconscious by a river in Murang’a. These are a few high profile cases of police abusing their power.
Additionally, evidence of extrajudicial killings and missing persons at the hands of the police are easily accessible in the public domain, begging the question on what exactly was Mr. Mwaura talking about. Obviously, the government is aware of misconduct in the police service but chooses ignore it.
Despite the president claiming the police is an independent body, one may wonder whether his office sanctions this impunity and maintains plausible deniability. The Independent Police Oversight Authority is a toothless dog, if I may. After the murder of youth in the recent protests by police officers, the authority did its investigations and concluded that there was no evidence of police misconduct. A blatant lie.
However, there is hope in our constitution. A hope that burns true despite the constant bludgeoning and mutilation by the political class. The question is, is the citizenry brave enough to stand up for the rules of law and fight impunity?
