MIS-HANDLEMENT OF POWERS AND EQUIPMENTS

Kenyan constitution gives its publics the righto conduct peaceful demonstrations. Demonstrations are one way of communicating.
Kenyans use demonstrations to express their views, opinion and feelings towards the government. They also use protest to expose the social crimes, insecurity issues and such things.
Residents of kasarani were deprived this right by police officers when they were protesting on the poor state of mwiki-kasarani road. Residents joined hands with the drivers to conduct the protest though they were not successful.
The police engaged the protestors in running battles where even the school children were caught in the cross-hairs. There was destruction of properties especially the shops. The shops in kasarani suffered a major blow after a section of protesting residents rooted their way there finding their way out in order to save their lives.
The chaos caused the deaths of at least three individuals. This attracted the attention of the secretary general of ODM, who voiced his concern about the volatile situation in kasarani.
Through his twitter handle, he warned police officers from using excessive force to contain protestors agitating for the renovation of the road. He denounced police actions on the area as totally irresponsible and they should take responsibility. Also added that the deaths of citizens protesting are on the police officers.
This is not the only incident that has happened in the country of police officers using excessive force on Kenyans. A lot of deaths have been caused by the irresponsible officers who use their equipment’s where they are not supposed to and where they are supposed to use them they do not. This is evident by looking at the case of baby Pendo who was shot dead by a police officer during the presidential demonstrations of the year 2017.
It seems like the police officers do not know how to handle their equipment’s and some of then take advantage of being in a possession of acquiring such equipment’s like guns. Cases of police using those guns to harass the public are here now and then yet no suitable action is taken. Those found with such recklessness should not be in a possession of having the gun. The privilege should be taken away from them.
Not only police officers mishandling their equipment’s but also they have been treating the public with brutality. Since the police think they are the superior ones, they tend to be brutal even where it does not call for. For brutality, not only the police who are involved but also those who work for the city councils. This has been seen especially in the county of Nairobi, where the city councils treat the hawkers with a lot of brutality.
The constitution states that every Kenyan citizen should be treated with respect and dignity but those in the authority do not adhere to this. The right to life is entitled to everyone and no one is supposed to take that right away from another person no matter who you are.
It’s a high time that the police officers know the value of life and treat everyone accordingly. They should also know how to use their powers collectively in order to minimize the death cases caused by police. Right to life is a major right in the constitution of Kenya and it should be respected.