Your Read is on the Way
Every Story Matters
Every Story Matters
The Hydropower Boom in Africa: A Green Energy Revolution Africa is tapping into its immense hydropower potential, ushering in an era of renewable energy. With monumental projects like Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Inga Dams in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the continent is gearing up to address its energy demands sustainably while driving economic growth.
Northern Kenya is a region rich in resources, cultural diversity, and strategic trade potential, yet it remains underutilized in the national development agenda.
Can AI Help cure HIV AIDS in 2025
Why Ruiru is Almost Dominating Thika in 2025
Mathare Exposed! Discover Mathare-Nairobi through an immersive ground and aerial Tour- HD
Bullet Bras Evolution || Where did Bullet Bras go to?
President William Ruto has publicly reaffirmed his administration's support for the National Police Service (NPS), even as the force faces intense public scrutiny over alleged acts of brutality and extrajudicial killings. Speaking from State House on June 24 during a breakfast event with Kenya Police FC, Ruto commended officers for their role in safeguarding national peace, calling them the backbone of a secure country.
But even in his praise, the president added a crucial caveat: his government will only stand by the security agencies if they operate strictly within legal boundaries.
Emphasizing the importance of peace and national security, President Ruto described law enforcement as essential to the survival of the Kenyan state. He assured police personnel — from senior officers to those on routine patrol — that they had his government's full backing. His speech framed the police as patriots who daily risk their lives for the good of the nation.
However, he also acknowledged that this support comes with conditions. “We have enough infrastructure to ensure this happens within the law,” he noted, suggesting that rogue officers operating outside legal mandates would not be shielded by the state.
The president’s statements arrive at a tense moment. Nationwide protests are scheduled to erupt in various cities, including Nairobi, on June 25, in memory of young demonstrators — mostly Gen Z — killed during last year’s anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. At the heart of the current public fury is the killing of influencer Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody under suspicious circumstances.
Despite initial police claims that Ojwang had taken his own life, a post-mortem revealed severe physical trauma, including head injuries and signs of neck compression, which ruled out suicide. The Director of Public Prosecutions has since approved murder charges against three officers linked to the incident.
As if one scandal wasn’t enough, another controversy has intensified the storm. During a recent demonstration held in memory of Ojwang, footage emerged showing a police officer firing at a vendor, Boniface Kariuki, at close range. The incident, caught on video, caused national outrage and placed further pressure on the already embattled police force.
Kariuki remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital. The officer who fired the shot, Masinde Baraza, and his colleague Duncan Kiptoo — captured in the same footage physically assaulting the vendor — were later arrested. Despite these arrests, the damage to the police's public image appears irreversible, at least in the short term.
While President Ruto affirms support for the NPS in public forums, including athletic events and televised addresses, his words stand in sharp contrast to the grim realities unfolding across the country. Reports suggest that some officers may not just be acting unlawfully but doing so with impunity. Protesters and human rights advocates also fear that security forces could be infiltrated by state-sponsored groups aiming to provoke chaos and discredit genuine demonstrations.
Even as police pledge to protect peaceful protesters, fears persist that these guarantees may be hollow. If law enforcement fails to rebuild public trust and continues operating under a shadow of brutality, then Ruto’s assurances — no matter how well-intentioned — may do little to change the growing perception of a government complicit in suppressing dissent.
0 comments