BRUTALITY HIDDEN BY POWER

In a country where the badge is supposed to represent safety, justice, and integrity, many Kenyans are now asking: who protects us from the protectors? Over the past two years, the rise in police brutality, especially during protests, has sparked national outrage, only for the government to respond with silence, denial, or outright protection of the perpetrators.

From the deaths of peaceful demonstrators like Rex Masai to the maiming of unarmed youth by live bullets, the Kenyan public has been repeatedly exposed to graphic scenes of police violence. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence including video recordings, witness testimonies, and media reports, very few officers have been arrested, let alone convicted. This has left many Kenyans with one painful conclusion: the government is shielding the killers.

Whenever a case of police brutality arises, the state’s first reaction is often not to investigate the officer, but to attack the protest itself. Victims are painted as “criminals” or “rowdy youth,” and investigations, if any, are slow, inconclusive, or simply never made public. Government officials remain silent or issue vague statements, officers involved are transferred instead of being persecuted and when the society pushes too hard the state responds with threats or more violence.

The Interior Ministry and even the President have often remained quiet in the face of mounting brutality cases. And when statements do come, they are vague, defensive, or focus more on the rule of law than the lives lost. Leaders such as the Deputy president Kithure Kindiki have frequently promised investigations, but with no transparent findings and no justice for victims, these words feel more like empty noise.

Worse still, some government officials have publicly praised the police for maintaining order, despite overwhelming evidence of abuse. It raises a critical question: is the government complicit, or just too afraid to confront its own security machinery?

Speaking after the killing of a blogger and a teacher, Albert Ojwang, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said, “This government has failed to protect its people. We cannot continue to bury our youth because of bad leadership and police bullets. We demand justice for Albert and every innocent kenyan who has fallen. Stop killing our children.”

Institutions like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) are meant to provide justice but their hands are often tied. Underfunded, politically pressured, and lacking prosecutorial power, IPOA has frequently failed to deliver justice for victims of police killings. In many cases, investigations are delayed for years, or quietly closed.

A 2024 report by Human Rights Watch showed that out of over 500 documented cases of police abuse between 2020 and 2024, fewer than 20 led to convictions. This disturbing figure speaks volumes about the government’s failure to discipline rogue officers.

The result of all this is fear and mistrust. For many young Kenyans, especially those from informal settlements, police are no longer seen as protectors but as threats. Parents warn their children not to go out during protests not because of crime, but because of police bullets.

As Gen Zs and other brave citizens continue to rise against oppression, their voices are met not just with tear gas and guns, but with a wall of government denial.

Some leaders have dared to speak out. Hon. Babu Owino recently said, “A government that shields murderers in uniform has lost moral authority to govern.”  Activist Boniface Mwangi added, “If the state protects killers instead of the people, then we are living in a dictatorship, not a democracy.”

They kill, and the government keeps quiet. They shoot, and the state looks away. In Kenya, wearing a uniform has become a license to kill with zero consequences.

Its a growing stain on Kenyas democracy, police brutality, unpunished. The list of victims grows longer each year, but justice remains distant, like a fading promise. As the public cries out for accountability, the government continues to shield rogue officers, creating a dangerous system where murder is not only tolerated, it is protected.

Police brutality in Kenya is no longer a rare occurrence. It is a growing trend. And behind the bloodshed is a pattern of protection, cover-up and impunity by the state.

The growing number of police involved shootings in Kenya, particularly during public demonstrations, raises important questions about accountability, oversight, and the protection of human rights. While the police play a critical role in maintaining law and order, any use of force especially lethal force must be subject to strict legal and ethical scrutiny.

Allegations of cover-ups and delayed justice only deepen public mistrust and highlight the need for stronger institutions that can independently investigate and prosecute wrongdoing without political interference. For the rule of law to hold meaning, justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Only through transparency, accountability, and reform can confidence in law enforcement be restored.

END…

BY: FALARY MUTETHYA

John

The author is an experienced radio journalist and media manager.