Police are always on the receiving and the public mostly treats them as enemies and rarely as allies.
Mention bribery, extrajudicial killings, death by suicide and the National Police Service rolls off the tongue.
However, take a step back and just imagine a country without a police service! ere will be a complete breakdown in law and order.
Fact be said, the police in Kenya have earned their bad name. e bad deeds of the rotten apples have made the working environment for the police in Kenya very toxic.
It is saddening that 29 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2024.
The working and living conditions coupled with poor pay and work-related stress have seen several officers die by suicide.
The government needs to strengthen community policing, a good initiative that was left to die.
The police should also be integrated into the communities they work in through sporting activities, corporate social responsibility and other social events. is will enable them to be seen as allies in the battle against crime and not enemies.
Families of those killed in the line of
duty must equally receive adequate and
timely compensation. We can’t do without
policemen.