Kenya’s recent protests against the Finance Bill 2024 have thrown a glaring spotlight on the Kenyan police force, revealing a disturbing pattern of behaviour that harkens back to its colonial roots. The haunting images of officers wielding excessive force against peaceful demonstrators illustrate a long-standing disconnect between the police and the very citizens they are supposed to protect. Their conduct underscores the need to revisit not only their current practices but also their historical foundations.
The Police Service has several critical functions. These include maintaining law and order, preserving peace, protecting life and property, preventing and detecting crime, apprehending offenders, and enforcing all laws and regulations. Their objectives as outlined in Article 244 of the constitution, include several key mandates. Police are tasked with preventing corruption while promoting and practising transparency and accountability. The Police Service is also responsible for training its staff to the highest possible standards in areas such as competence, integrity, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and dignity.
The current protests highlight a stark reality: the Kenyan police serve a two-tiered system of justice. They can be seen as an instrument of state power, maintaining the status quo and protecting the elite. The Marxist perspective on state institutions argues that the police serve the interests of the ruling class by suppressing dissent and safeguarding their privileges. Social Dominance Theory suggests that individuals with power (such as police officers) are inclined to uphold and benefit from existing societal hierarchies. This dynamic is exacerbated by low salaries and poor working conditions, which can drive officers towards corruption, including accepting bribes to supplement their income. Such corruption allows those with the means to evade justice through financial influence and connections, perpetuating a narrative where the wealthy navigate the legal system with ease while the less fortunate face disproportionate police misconduct. This glaring inequality fosters a pervasive sense of injustice and resentment among the people.
During the protests against the Finance Bill 2024 aimed at further taxing the working class, police brutality was rampant, with officers using tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators. This response is part of a broader pattern of oppression targeting poor and marginalised communities.
In slums and informal settlements, residents often report harassment and extortion by police, viewing them more as predators than protectors. Cognitive Dissonance Theory suggests that officers who engage in violent and corrupt acts experience psychological discomfort due to the inconsistency between their actions and their self-image as protectors. To alleviate this discomfort, they justify their actions by blaming victims or downplaying their misconduct.
Eliminating the cycle of violence and mistrust requires dismantling the underlying mechanisms. read full story
.jpeg)
0 Comments