The Standard on Sunday
Date: 09.11.2014
Page 9
Article size: 316 cm2
ColumnCM: 70.22
AVE: 161511.11
Killings were second highest loss to police
The recent killing of 21 police officers by bandits in pan of growing n umber of
police officers killed in the line of duty by cruel criminals.
Kapedo, Turkana County, was the second highest loss of
police officers in history in a span of two years.
The officers' slaughter rame nearly two years after mas­
sacre of 40 officers in Suguta Valley, near Baragoi in Sam­
rustlers.
buru County by armed cattle
Kenya Police Service spokeswoman Zipporah Mboroki
said it will take a while to compile names and oilier deta ils
ni the police officers who have paid the ultimate price in
the line of duty. But by our count, more than 120 officers
have been killed in the line of dutyoverthe last three years.
On October 31, the officers went in pursuit of armed On Wednesday, a police officer who was shot last Sunday
raiders who three days before had killed three of their col­ by unknown people while on patrol duties in Kasarani died
of his injuries in a hospital in Nairobi.
leagues from ihe General Service Unit (GSU].
He and many more make up the growing sad statistics
The raiders had attacked cars ferrying Kenya Certificate
of Primary Education (KCPF) examination materials and of security officers whose lives have been snuffed out by
criminals who seem to be gelling bolder by the day.
burned them.
In 2012, nine police officers were killed in Kilelengwani,
However, the officers
Tana River County In ethnic clashes between the Pokomos.
did noi know that they
The officers were also stripped of their uniforms and their
firearms taken away.
In the same year, two officers guarding the Garissa AIC
Church were shot at close range and their firearms stolen.
would run in to a wcll­
p la nned ambush by Pokot
raiders that would leave 21
of (hem dead and a nation
In March last year suspected members MHC attacked an
Italian­owned casino and shot two police officers dead.
In September last year, unknown gunmen attacked a
in shock at the barbarity of
ihe crime.
The murder of the offi­
cers is made even more
police station in Mandera County, killing at least two po­
lice officers and injuring three others.
Security analyst Richard Tuta said Kenya ranks as one
of die countries with the highest number of police officers
killed. "Look at the numbers cumulatively," he said.
He sides attacks that leave mass casualties like the Kape­
do and the Baragoi killings, many more police officers die
tragic by the fact that mosi
of ihe slain officers were
young, and perhaps look­
ing forward to long careers
in the police.
But the killing of police
in attacks that do not attract national attention.
officers was not an isolat­
ed event. The incident is
plement solutions. Our security gaps today are capable of
heing firmly dealt with if those responsible had a clarity of
mind and purpose which is lacking," said the statement
by Ipoa. Ipoa's chairman Macharia Njeru has criticised the
police for not adequately preparing and arming the offi­
cers for critical missions such as recovering stolen cattle.
In other countries the price for killing a police officer
is steep. In the US it is the death penalty or a lifetime sen­
tence. MrTuta said there is need to adopt similar measures
in Kenya.
"Those who kill those we pay to ensure our security
should be made to pay the ultimate price too," he said.
These killings area'reflection of the general slate of in­
security in the country, said Abdullah! Maa­
lim, a former police officer who is now a pri­
vate security consultant.
­people are increasingly taking the law in
Security officers are increasingly being
caught up in these situations, he said.
to their own hands to resolve personal issues.
Stolen guns
For example, in February this year, a traffic policeman
was shot dead and his gun stolen hy gunmen on a motor­
bike in Kombani, Kwaie.
"The issue of police officers being killed is a sad affair.
It shows clearly the lack of respect by the citizens to our
security officers. It also shows a lack of appreciation for the
roles fiiey play in society," said Mr Tuta.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority [Ipoa] has
U The issue of police officers being killed is
a sad attair. It shows clearly lack or respect by
r /
citizCHS tO OUT Security OUlCerS, ­Richard Tuta.analyst
been critical of­the way the police top command at Vigi­
lance House has been handling the issue
"The police leadership lias been reduced to fire fight­
ing. They live in denial and continue to play victim by look­
ing for excuses rather than owning up to the mess we find
ourselves in. In our view the police command is unable to
correctly analyse the problem at hand, prescribe and im­
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya