It
has once again happened. Our men in uniform came under a vicious attack from
cattle raiders in Suguta Valley, Baragoi, and Samburu County. In the latest attack, police officers reservists
on the trail of cattle rustlers in this valley of death were ambushed and
overcame by the rustler’s heavy gunfire and
sophisticated weapons. The results were a deadly blow; at least 42 were left
dead and others critically injured. Their bodies were left decomposing for two days
in this valley, before they were airlifted to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. Grief-stricken
and shattered families, relatives and friends of the slain officers were at the
airport to receive the bodies. This daring attack by heavily armed cattle
raiders on our police officers and reservists in the forests of Samburu is the
deadliest so far in post-colonial Kenya.
The
year 2012 is an annus-horribils to
our disciplined forces. Attacks on police officers, the very people entrusted
with safeguarding the security of our nation, have become all too common. The
statistics of our fallen soldiers are getting grimmer day by day. The sad thing
is that a majority of Kenyans care less whenever this happens to police
officers.
Men
and women in the duty to keep the country safe have fallen to all manner of
attacks. Terror attacks have meted their fair shares of anguish on our police
force. Bullets, grenades and Improvised Explosive Devices, commonly referred to
as IEDs have been used to kill our innocent and diligent officers, who have put
their lives on the line to guarantee our safety.
However,
at the backdrop of all these, it is interesting to note that neither our
political class nor the ordinary citizens have taken interest in these troubles
faced by our police officers. Not even the human rights watch groups have came
out to condemn. One then begins to wonder if our officers are less- humans or
proof to pain! Families, husbands, wives and innocent children have lost their
breadwinners and loved ones.
These
Kenyans are left to wallow and suffer in misery and grief. But where is the
concern that we as a country should have towards the families of our
disciplined officers, whenever their loved ones are killed in the line of duty?
Members of the police force put their lives on the line in order to guarantee
our security. Whenever we tremble as gunfire rents the air, police officers
come out to confront the enemy, albeit coming closer to death. At night when
the whole nation goes to bed, police officers leave the comfort of their
families and loved ones, to ward off criminals and those who are bent on
causing insecurity. They are not sure of what is going to happen the next
minute and have God to thank whenever they see the next morning.
To
our officers, death is always lurking in the shadows. Their families and loved
ones live in constant fear and doubt of what happens to their bread winners in
the line of duty. Police officers, despite their difficult working conditions
and inevitable danger they are faced with, never give up or shy away from their
responsibility. They offer security to our legislators who do not pay tax, yet
they do not grumble.
Police
officers are at times forced to fight an enemy who has far more sophisticated
weapons and tact, especially in this age of modern technology. But they never
give up on the fight despite all these. Yet when they threaten to go on a
go-slow, they are threatened with punitive action by their bosses, high up the
administration chain. Nobody comes to their aid and show solidarity in their
fight for better conditions.
It
is the time when as a country, we set out to share in the troubles of our
police officers. It is our responsibility to lend them a helping hand and
listen to their plight. Let us watch no more as burdened and weighed down
officers commit suicides. This is a loss to their loved ones and the country as
a whole. Police officers are our unsung heroes and we should work towards
making them feel appreciated.
My
heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families, friends and relatives and
all Kenyans who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty. May God the
Almighty give you strength to bear the loss.
Rest
in peace our fallen officers.
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