The Kenya Police has announced that is has withdrawn police officers who had been assigned to guard Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.
This comes days after Senator Malala made comments about officers serving under Kenya Police that were widely interpreted as demeaning and derogatory.
In a statement that was issued by the National Police Service Commission Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia on Sunday, May 29, 2022, Kenya Police noted that it would no longer entertain a situation where its employees are subjected to ridicule while in their line of duty.
The NPSC chair announced that Malala’s bodyguards would only be reinstated if and after he formally apologizes to all police officers through the NPSC.
“We know you Senator Malala. You must come and apologize properly to the Police. We have agreed with the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai that you will continue moving around in Kakamega without security,” Kinuthia said.
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“If you want, you can take all those youth you claim have dropped out of school in Kakamega and make them your security. My police officers will not protect a politician who does not respect them.”
Senator Malala was recently caught on video demeaning officers who were guarding him at a campaign rally in Khwisero, in Kakamega. The Senator told his supporters that cops in Kenya do not need to have an academic qualification to serve.
He alluded that the police service job should be left for school dropouts as it only takes strength to hold a gun.
His statement irked many Kenyans including the police service.
“We as NPS fraternity, including our dear families and friends, are utterly disappointed with such unwarranted and outrageous remarks, which we find too demeaning and only aimed at scandalizing a noble profession deployed in the service and good of the public,” the National Police Service said in a statement.
“That, more disappointed we are as police, given that these unfortunate remarks were made by a leader we not only hold in high esteem, but one we also continue to provide round-the-clock protection with pride and competency.”