Video: Kenyan motorists resist orders from police officer who removed service number from his uniform.
The National Police Service clarified that uniformed police officers have the authority to enter, search and drive a civilian’s vehicles in permissible circumstances. However, the statement said, Kenyan law states that “ police officers must properly identify themselves before entering and searching a vehicle, and document everything they take«.
Disgruntled motorists accused police officers of attempting to search their vehicles and demand passports, whilethey were unidentifiable.
Michael Ollinga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports and current affairs in Kenya, reports on the event.
Motorists resisting the orders of a police officer
There was tension after two motorists resisted orders from a police officer who allegedly entered their vehicle and demanded they produce their passports.
In a video that has sparked divided opinions over the behavior of motorists and police, disgruntled civilians demand that the officer first identify himself and explain why he entered their car.
“Why do you want to arrest us? What have we done ? You can’t just stop our car and go inside without telling us why you blocked us. You are making a mistake. This is how corruption begins,” said one of the disgruntled citizens.
On the other hand, one of the officers, in an old Kenyan police uniform, is persistent and asks for cooperation from the arguing civilians.
Should Kenyan police uniforms have service numbers ? The officer wonders why citizens would demand that he present his professional ID card, when he is in uniform and his orders must be respected.
“You can’t threaten me. You don’t recognize uniformed police officers,” the officer responds. The motorists, however, reiterated that the officer failed to properly identify himself and give them a reason to ask for their passports.
« If you are a police officer, show us your work card. What’s your name then ? And let us know what we did wrong? » they asked. Under pressure, the agent only identified himself as Michael.
Kenyans weighed in on the confrontation, with some accusing the civilians of disrespect, while others said the police officer was in the wrong for not displaying his service number. Waithira Munyiri said the manner in which the aggrieved parties spoke to the officers was indicative of their bad behavior.
“As aggrieved as you may be by the intimidation, the abuse of power, this useless phrase that “Kenyans” like to use “do you know who I am” should stop…this is precisely because everyone has “Feeling more entitled than the next person that we are where we are,” Munyiri said. Tom Okinyi wondered why the police officer’s uniform didn’t have a service number.
Can police officers come in and search your car? “There is no police number on his shirt. Is it hidden for malicious reasons? So, the “victims” should also calm down in this confrontation,” he said. “ This agent removed his number oddly enough, which means he knows what he’s doing is wrong! » said Jully. Another Kenyan said the police officer failed to identify himself.
“The “police officer” is unidentifiable. He has no service number, and he cannot produce his employment certificate,” Joseph Mus said. TUKO.co.ke previously reported on the legality of uniformed police officers entering citizens’ vehicles.
The National Police Service said uniformed police officers had the authority to enter and search a driver’s vehicle.
“It is lawful for any uniformed police officer to stop any vehicle, and for any police officer, license agent or inspector—
(a) enter any vehicle;
(b) drive any vehicle or cause any vehicle to be driven;
(c) upon reasonable suspicion of any offense under this Act, to order and require the owner of any vehicle to bring the vehicle to him,” the department said.
Video: Kenyans Resist Orders from Police Officer Who Removed Service Number from His Uniform (msn.com)
