- The government has failed Kenyans, who are heavily taxed in the name of security provision, among other services.
In recent years, Nakuru has faced a worst nightmare of insecurity.
From the armed gangs that have killed tens of people in less than a month, it's now the police themselves who are killing the civilians.
Citizens are expected to run to police officers to shield them against the armed thugs. The reverse is now the case. Instead, the officers are now the people firing and killing civilians.
On June 9, 2025 a civilian was fatally shot by a police officer in the London area of Nakuru town.
By the evening of the fateful day, 10 police officers had been arrested in connection with the shooting incident in the London estate of Nakuru, where a resident was left dead.
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According to the reports from an eyewitnesses, the deceased was allegedly shot moments after a confrontation between police officers and residents of the London area.
According to the police report, the confrontation erupted after a mission to recover a haul of bhang from a house in the London estate of Nakuru town turned tragic.
The police were trying to arrest the suspected traffickers in the area. The residents turned against the police and started throwing stones at them, which the police shot back in defence, and unfortunately, they ended up killing a resident.
According to the police on patrol, a drug mule in the town had been allegedly arrested. So, they were seeking to know the source of the marijuana the trafficker usually sells.
He agreed to take them to the said source, and upon reaching the area, the police managed to arrest three people connected to the business.
Little did the police know that the three were powerful and influential in the area.
Sooner or later, a mob mobilized and started stoning the officers while demanding that the three suspects be released, as per a witness at the scene.
The officers shot in the air to disperse the mob, after which they escaped after freeing the suspects. Unfortunately, one resident was shot, and he died instantly in the mix-up.
The furious locals demanded action against the officers by blocking roads and lighting bonfires. As an outcome, the irate youths stormed Nakuru General Hospital. They disrupted normalcy for several hours as tensions as things escalated.
This has continued up to date June 10, and no one knows whether the tranquillity and serenity that Nakuru residents once enjoyed will ever return.
While addressing security officers at State House in April this year, President Ruto said, “to secure our democracy, the rule of law is the bedrock. All of us irrespective of who we are, the offices we occupy, our status must respect and submit to the rule of law."
According to the President, the cardinal principle for the stability and progress of a nation was in the leaders' ability to follow the law.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case, particularly in matters related to security in Nakuru town in recent years.
Nakuru town and its environs have been the hiding place of all types of armed gangs. Although the police have numerously tried to contain the situation by arresting suspects and arraigning them in court, they now seem to be overpowered by the armed gangs,
On June 1, 2025 a police officer on patrol in the town was shot and killed on the spot by an armed gang. On June 9, 2025, a similar case happened in the unfortunate case where a police officer killed a resident in defence when a furious mob attacked them.
As it is today, Nakuru town residents are not safe, nor are the security officers safe. The case in the rest of the country is not any different. Statistics have consistently shown that our security officers fall short of the required numbers for efficiency. The few that are there are overworked, underpaid and demotivated.
Why are we then deploying our police officers abroad while we are experiencing inadequacy? Why are we pretending to have a surplus while we have a deficit?
The government has failed Kenyans, who are heavily taxed in the name of security provision, among other services.
President William Ruto should wake up from a teller and promiser to a doer. Nakuru residents need security; Kenyans need security.
