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Let the Rule of Law Prevail

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Published on Monday, 02 July 2007 04:37
The police are generally doing a good job protecting lives and property. However, certain recent occurrences have left the force looking rather bad, exposing either negligence, inability or a lack of commitment. Top on the list are the macabre killings in the crude hunt for alleged witches in Kisii. Locals claim that some of the slayings of people suspected to have evil powers over their neighbours have occurred near police stations.

It has also been alleged that police have been called, but they let the killers finish the "job" before moving in. Now, these are serious allegations. If there is a grain of truth in these claims, the culprits must be brought to book. Kisii, nearly 400 kilometres away from the force's headquarters in Nairobi, may be a little difficult to police.

But that is no justification for the continuing deaths and arson attacks. Kenyans are entitled to full protection at all times, wherever they are. The reason we raise the issue of distance is that the greater resources and expertise of the force will naturally be found in the capital. So, where were the regular and administration police, and local chiefs, when more than 50 villagers chanting war-cries raided a village on the western outskirts of the city at the weekend and torched homes?

The apparent revenge attack was sparked by the killing of an elderly man at the local shopping centre. The Kisii and Kiambu incidents point to a breakdown in law and order. Which raises the question: What has happened to the intelligence gathering system that our police force has been renowned for? Deterrence is at the core of any successful policing. Whatever the grievances people may have, they must never be allowed to take the law into their hands. If they brazenly do so and get away with it, we're courting chaos and disaster.