Should all traffic police be armed to avoid “mburukenge” attacks?

 

Kenyans have raised a debate on whether  all traffic police officers should be armed after a video of a Tuk Tuk driver stoning police officers emerged.

An act that has criticized and equally praised. Those criticizing it say that Kenyans do not have respect for police officers anymore. Those celebrating defend their argument saying that the real fight against corruption has just taken it’s momentum and the reason they deserve a beating is that Kenyans are tired of harassment and money being extorted from them including the whole system,

The government has already set up initiatives and platforms that allow Kenyans to report on  any complaints they have in connection to police officer.

Last week, Matiang’i ordered  that Kenyans should not let that happen and should report any cases and complaints through the anonymous reporting information  system app which was launched recently.

Matiang’i emphasized that they want to clean the police force and get rid of the police officers who will be found culpable of corrupt dealings.

With the recent cases of citizens attacking the police, Donald Kipkorir says that It’s only in Kenya where the Police are assaulted by the Public … To assault a Police Officer in Uniform is terrorism …. It’s time the National Police Service took back the their authority before the Country sinks into anarchy. Traffic Police must be given guns.

In 2015, traffic police officers were allowed to carry firearms depending on their areas of deployment.

Respective area commanders were to decide whether or not their juniors should be armed, depending on the risks they face.

Should all traffic police officers be given guns? Well this raises a huge debate since traffic police officers have mostly been known for their role of controlling traffic  and bringing sanity on the roads. Mostly dealing with rogue drivers

From the opinions I could gather, Kenyans feel that if given guns that will be a way to threaten road users and many will

Others claim that this will heighten the issue of police brutality  and the guns might end up being misused.

 

How should the government deal with citizens who harass the police?

 

 

 

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