Former police spokesperson Charles Owino has condemned the use of violence to challenge government authority, urging Kenyans to seek lawful avenues in expressing their grievances.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Thursday, Owino emphasized that while public outrage over police misconduct is understandable, resorting to street chaos undermines national stability and invites unnecessary conflict.
“There is no space for anarchy,” Owino said. “If somebody wants to cause anarchy as a means to remove those in office, then you’d rather become a guerilla and face the military.”
He defended the role of the police in maintaining law and order, noting that while officers are not beyond reproach, their primary duty is to safeguard societal peace. “The police work daily for the social well-being of society. This is our country, we will not get another, and neither will we get another police service,” he added.
Owino’s remarks come amid nationwide outrage over recent incidents involving police brutality. The killing of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ while in police custody has drawn widespread condemnation, triggering protests that have often turned violent.
During one such protest in Nairobi, a hawker was shot in the head and is currently hospitalized in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). In response, the National Police Service (NPS) interdicted two officers, Police Constables Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono, linked to the shooting.
Owino urged aggrieved citizens to channel complaints through appropriate legal forums, rather than taking to the streets. “Let us work together. It is not wrong to point out where the police have made mistakes,” he said, calling for unity and dialogue in addressing the country’s policing and governance challenges.
Written By Rodney Mbua
