If you want to read political writing on the Kenya Police please click on this link here.
This is a post on me ruminating about police.
Due to the construction on Waiyaki Way, I have been using Jogoo Road quite often. And I have been curious how much the police make on bribes because FOR SURE, Lusaka Road and Jogoo Road are over policed and they stop matatus all the time – and we know what that means. BRIBES.
It made me continue to see the intersection between how they speak about over policing in poor areas in the US and how that is the case here.
The truth is that
- We have been scared to the point that we believe that the police are necessary. The truth is that most of the crime that happens is due to poverty.
- On top of that, the existence of the police does nothing to deter crime.
- And let us not forget that the police exist to protect the interest of the rich. That is why even when there are protests over issues that would benefit the lives of police, they still brutalise the protestors. The reality is that it is Utumishi Kwa wenye wako na pesa.
- There is a reason why the police in Kenya are chosen how they are chosen.
- There is a reason why police are gleeful when they are tormenting people. It is because of the power they believe they have at that moment. They might have terrible living situation, low salary etc but at that point when they are harassing someone, they feel semblance of control.
- If there were no traffic police, would Kenyans be reasonable on the road? One might be asking, especially since Matatus becomes a menace when there are no police. This has nothing to do with police and more to do with our culture. As I have said a couple of times, Kenyans are unkind and you can see it on the roads. Capitalism also comes into play here but also we are unkind and unreasonable drivers.
Ciiku 