Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja is facing mounting pressure to explain glaring security lapses after senators sharply questioned why attackers targeting senior leaders remain at large, raising fresh concerns over public safety and the rule of law.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Security, Kanja struggled to provide satisfactory answers regarding the failure to arrest suspects linked to attacks on key political figures, including Fatuma Dullo and Godfrey Osotsi.
Dullo, who chairs the powerful Senate Security Committee, delivered a pointed critique that underscored the gravity of the situation. She questioned how she could assure her constituents of their safety when the state appeared unable to guarantee her own protection despite her high-ranking position.
“If I, as the chair of this committee, am not safe, what do I tell the ordinary Kenyan?” she posed, in remarks that laid bare growing public anxiety over insecurity.
Osotsi, in equally startling revelations, told the committee that individuals suspected of attacking him in Kisumu had not only evaded arrest but had brazenly appeared in court to support their co-accused colleagues. The incident, he said, demonstrated an alarming level of impunity and disregard for law enforcement.
“This is not just negligence; it signals a system emboldening criminals,” Osotsi warned.
While Kanja maintained that “no Kenyan is above the law,” lawmakers were unconvinced, citing repeated delays and apparent inaction by security agencies.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna escalated the pressure, questioning whether the police were effectively abdicating their constitutional mandate. He challenged the Inspector General to clarify whether citizens should now take matters into their own hands, particularly in high-profile cases involving public officials.
“Are we being told that Kenyans should now carry out arrests themselves?” Sifuna asked, reflecting growing frustration within Parliament.
The heated exchange highlights deepening concerns over the credibility and responsiveness of Kenya’s security apparatus, especially amid rising cases of politically linked violence and delayed justice.
Security analysts warn that failure to act decisively could erode public trust in law enforcement and embolden criminal networks, particularly in politically sensitive regions.
As scrutiny intensifies, all eyes remain on Kanja and the National Police Service to demonstrate tangible progress in the investigations—before the perception of selective justice hardens into public belief.
