This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
Kenyan Police Officer Pleads with Colleagues to Stop Engaging in Crime ¶
As cases of police officers involved in crime continue to rise, a Kenyan police officer has taken a bold step by pleading with his colleagues to stop engaging in such activities.
Speaking in a video posted on his Facebook page on October 9, 2019, Mohammed Ahmed, a police officer based in Nairobi, urged his colleagues to reflect on why they joined the police force and to stop engaging in crime.
"Kwa sasa tunafanya kazi mzuri, lakini tumekuwa tukiona taarifa kuhusu maafisa wa polisi wa polisi ambao wanajihusisha na uhalifu. Nataka kila mmoja aketi chini na ajiulize kwa nini akajiunga na kikosi cha polisi. Kumbuka mlikuwa wangapi wakati wa zoezi la kuchukuliwa na Mungu akakuchagua wewe," he said.
He emphasized that police officers are meant to protect the public, not to be involved in crimes such as theft and murder.
"Wacheni kuwa wahalifu kwa jina polisi, wacheni kuwa wauaji mkitumia jina la maafisa wa polisi. Lindeni wananchi. Familia yako na Wakenya wanakutegemea," he said.
He also called on his colleagues to reflect on the damage that their actions are causing to the reputation of the police force and the trust of the public they serve.
"Tuko kwenye kikosi kuleta tofauti, nataka nikemee wachache baadhi yetu ambao wanaharibu jina la polisi. Wacheni tuwafanye wananchi wajivunie na tulete uaminifu kwa wale tunaowahudumia," he said.