SECURITY DURING THE REFERENDUM VOTE: Jitters over Police Pay Rise.

“Human security is the primary purpose of organising a state in the beginning”

-Thomas Hobbes

Following concerns that communal and sectarian violence may erupt in some of parts of the country during and after the 4th August referendum vote, President Mwai Kibaki, his Security Minister George Saitoti and the Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere moved fast to dispel fears of the possibility of any post-referendum violence akin to the January 2008 post-election violence. Despite these assurances five state commissions and a host of NGOs have warned of possible violence owing to what they have termed divisive political messages during the on-going referendum campaigns. But are these concerns and fears genuine?

Freedom from fear is the cornerstone of societal order and social cohesion. Communal and sectarian violence is socially disruptive. It causes communities to lose their traditional values and relationships. Massive human rights violations mostly occur during periods of political strife. Minority ethnic groups and migrant communities in the Rift Valley and Coast Provinces of Kenya are particularly vulnerable. They have recurrently suffered political violence and social displacement during national elections. This is occasioned by wayward politicians who exploit ethnic apprehensions as a basis for political mobilisation and competition. The majority of the areas identified as hot-spots for possible post-referendum violence are in the two provinces. Although communal violence is more likely during highly charged, competitive and divisive general elections, the ongoing referendum debate has turned out to be no different. Some politicians campaigning for or against the draft have used certain sections in the Chapters on Land and Devolution to create fear and despondency meant to demonise, isolate, and ostracise ethnic minorities and “immigrants” in their regions thus raising the prospect of post-referendum violence.

In the past, political violence in the Rift valley and Coast Provinces has been blamed on poverty, socio-economic inequity and lack of state capacity. The Kenya police force is empowered and has a cardinal responsibility to enforce the law, protect property and minimise civil strife. The police occupy a special position in our country since they are authorised to exercise the police power of the state. They enjoy the monopoly of the use of lawful force. It is actually a national honour to serve in the police or any section of the armed forces. Despite massive police deployment in the identified hot-spots, many people are still apprehensive that the officers will not adequately guarantee their security during and after the referendum vote. Is the scepticism justified?

For starters there is no such thing as absolute security. Security cannot be measured on a scale of quantity. Security is a perception by those who seek and receive protection by the state. Massive deployment of police officers in the identified hot-spots can create a sense of security but this is not sufficient. Policing is not just a function of deployment. It involves a range of activities such as arrest, search and seizure and use of or threat of use of force to preserve order. In a multi-ethnic state such as Kenya the use of deadly force must be applied cautiously since tension can spiral out of control if an officer from one ethnic group kills or harms a suspect from another community. To win the confidence of the consumers of their service, police officers must exercise their power impartially within a distinct and limited legal and territorial area of responsibility. Excessive use of force and overt acts of mutiny or insubordination by security officers creates a sense of fear and despondency among ordinary citizens. It also erodes the citizens’ confidence in the state’s capacity to protect them. This is the reason why the massive deployment of security officers to the identified hot-spots coming in the backdrop of open grumbling by junior police officers over their staggered pay increase is not reassuring enough. Some people have expressed fear that the officers may picket or go-slow during and after the referendum vote. Police officers should know that the majority of Kenyans support their supplication for better pay and working conditions. It is now their turn to reciprocate the enormous public support by selflessly providing security during and after the epic 4th August referendum. They have a sacred duty to ensure that Kenyans will not start fleeing their homes after voting. What the police will do or not do on that day will be of great historical significance. Their actions will either reinforce or shake the very core of our foundation as a modern state.