The Unchanged Reality of Police Impunity in Kenya

In the midst of the gloom surrounding Kenya, a glimmer of hope seems to emerge: the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) has summoned over 50 police officers, including 15 senior commanders, over misconduct during protests. While this might seem like a step towards accountability, it’s just the same old story. Having grown up as the son of a senior police officer, I have witnessed firsthand how the system works—often more in favor of the police than the public.

Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi, who sentenced the Acting Inspector General of Police, B. Gilbert Mang’eni, for contempt of court, has now had his security withdrawn. The police claim it’s a mix-up, stating that two officers were sent for training on VIP security detail. However, many suspect this is an indication of a deeper conflict between the judiciary and the police, both crucial arms of government.

We also reflect on Kenya’s long history of political drama where investigations and commissions often serve as nothing more than a public distraction. A notable example is the 2013 murder of Foreign Minister Dr. John Robert Ouko, where the government attempted to cover up the truth. The commission set up to investigate the case was shut down when it got too close to the truth. This kind of cover-up continues today, as evidenced by the government’s recent creation of a 129-member committee to review the controversial new university education funding model—a clear attempt to divert attention from the real issues at hand.

The summoning of over 50 police officers for misconduct might appear as a breakthrough, but history has shown us that nothing changes. Past attempts to investigate police misdeeds, like those by the National Police Service Commission in 2013, have been met with threats and intimidation, ensuring that the truth is never uncovered.

Despite these setbacks, there is still a glimmer of hope in the work of individual actors like Magistrate Mugambi, but the broader issue remains: the police, protected by impunity, are a force that is almost impossible to hold accountable. And as much as the public clamors for justice, the reality is that no meaningful change will come until the system itself is overhauled.

Now, as new revelations emerge surrounding the Adani Energy deal, with former opposition leader turned Energy CS Opiyo Ochieng' singing the praises of this controversial agreement, it’s clear that Kenya’s political and economic landscape remains fraught with corruption, manipulation, and a lack of transparency. The public may continue to make noise, but the system remains unchanged, leaving us to wonder if real justice will ever be achieved.