Dear Countrymen,

I welcome the comments by the Right Honourable PM Raila that there is a need to crackdown on rampant police corruption.

It sounds good and everyone cheered loudly ; but the truth is, it is not easy even though possible.

We should confront the demons of the ramifications of such a drastic move if it is not well calculated:

1. There can be an insurrection within the force
2. Police bosses will undermine the system they work for
3. There will be a sharp rise in crime overnight (Insecurity proper)
4. Use of firearms may triple current levels
5. The force will be demoralized
6. They have the capability and numbers to counter our own military
7. They have the inside information and know all the soft spots

The current levels of corruption in the police force are well known and if you asked Chris Murungaru, he knows the silent insurrection he had to deal with when NARC took power. The public never knew but it is well on record that the police downed there tools and refused to take orders from their superiors.

Corruption in the police force is well tolerated by the system for a reason; very much akin to what Mobutu Seseko did for Zaire now DR Congo. He put out resources to promote music in the nation that served as opium for the masses while he looted the nation.

Our force is used to serve political interests and they know thiS. And they are confident we cannot touch them and trust me we wont and cannot. Not now.

To tackle corruption in the force will take the overhauling of the conscience of the nation. How is easy is that?

There will be need to have the anti-corruption psyche embedded in our curriculum. The population will have to be politically educated and empowered through civic awareness. How long will that take?

What the Prime Minister is espousing is politically correct and resonates well with the public but how practical it can be; i remain very skeptical. As Kenyans would say; ‘Sioni!’

So, do we just fold our arms and watch blue birds of Dover over the White Docks of Dover, definitely not, we should do something, but it is more complex than we think.

Using the public platform to do this was also a strategic mistake. The PM’s Bureau should not have let this happen. The government should be ready for the ramifications since they have fired the warning shot in the air. Big mistake.

Let us mull over it as a nation, one day, perhaps just but for now itabidi kazi iendelee??

Sande
HR Activist
VIHIGA

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Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:24:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Sande
Subject: RE: CORRUPTION IN THE FORCE? – NOT NOW