Kenya Faces Allegations of Systemic Police Violence

At least 16 people were killed and over 400 wounded, with 83 sustaining serious injuries, during demonstrations across Kenya on Wednesday. These protests, held to address concerns about police brutality, coincide with a recent increase in police-related deaths, with at least 20 Kenyans killed this month alone. The demonstrations occurred on the anniversary of last year’s parliamentary protests and follow an incident last week where police shot and killed an unarmed street trader, Boniface Kariuki, in Nairobi.

Background on Recent Events

The shooting of Boniface Kariuki and the death in police custody of Albert Ojwang have sparked public outrage. A deputy inspector general of police has been asked to step aside, although accusations persist of government efforts to shield him from prosecution. Several police officers have been indicted in connection with these incidents, but justice remains elusive for many victims, including those killed during the 2024 protests.

Colonial Origins

Kenya’s National Police Service is a direct descendant of the colonial police force, initially established to control and exploit the population rather than serve and protect it. Recruitment, training, and deployment practices have historically been designed to prioritize loyalty to the ruling class over service to citizens. Officers often face poor working conditions, low pay, and isolation from their communities, leading to a dynamic resembling an occupying force.

Police roadblocks are frequently described as informal toll collection points, and a significant portion of the population – approximately 1 in 5 Kenyans – are taken into custody each year, often resulting in what are characterized as shakedowns. This practice is considered a systemic feature rather than an anomaly. The 2010 constitution aimed to address these issues by granting the police operational independence, separating them from executive control.

Despite organizational changes and human rights training, reforms have yielded limited results. Unlike the judiciary, which has asserted its independence, police leadership has largely remained aligned with the executive branch, with no inspector general publicly challenging presidential directives or articulating a citizen-centered vision for policing.

This issue is not unique to Kenya; policing systems rooted in colonial violence have proven difficult to reform globally, including in Nigeria and South Africa. Western nations have also faced criticism for deploying repressive policing techniques developed for colonial control against their own populations.

Reimagining the System

The current situation raises questions about the possibility of police reform. Meaningful change requires a fundamental re-evaluation of public safety and who benefits from it. Kenyan youth are seen as key to this process.

A generation previously characterized as apathetic due to their disengagement from traditional electoral processes has demonstrated a capacity for civic education and citizen engagement. Utilizing digital tools, this movement has transcended ethnic divisions, offering online training on constitutional rights and tax policy, and fostering a belief in the possibility of influencing the state.

This movement can now be directed toward reimagining community-based approaches to addressing crime and promoting safety, moving beyond inherited ideologies. A focus on abolitionist frameworks, recognizing the inherent limitations of reforming colonial systems, could lead to the development of new systems rooted in community service.