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The  fatal shooting last Sunday of a three-year-old boy by policemen on patrol is chilling.

Whereas the circumstances under which the tragedy happened are still unclear, it’s not difficult to understand why members of the public have already drawn conclusions. 

The mention of police tends to invoke contrasting reactions. This dichotomy emerges because police on the one hand are protectors of life and property, and law enforcement agents yet on the other hand  appear to have elements with atrocious predisposition to doing exactly the opposite.   

True, there are officers who execute their mandate against incredible odds and conditions, including making the ultimate sacrifice; attributes which unfortunately get wiped out by horrors like the  Sunday Soweto slum child shooting.   

Kenyans have become accustomed to police being ranked dismally on integrity matters and specifically bribery which seems to have been a factor in the slum shooting.

It’s the reason the public believe the service as currently constituted neither inspires public confidence or even police self-confidence.

In this set up, the principles of ethics, discipline and order remain at the periphery.

What follows is that on the domains of capacity, processes and outcomes, police image remains irretrievably stained, bringing into question overall professionalism.

The National Police Service Commission guidelines paint a service that on paper should be effective, responsive and accountable.

That police on patrol are brazenly collecting cash from bars and chang’aa brewing dens in an illegal taxation is an affront to constitutionalism, yet this happens across the country every evening, deepening  human rights abuse.

We challenge Inspector General  Hillary Mutiambayi and supporting institutions to bring order and dignity to the service.   

 The Independent Policing Oversight Authority must live up to its constitutional mandate and without fear or favour get to the bottom of this monstrosity.

It’s the only way to ensure that justice is done  to  the parents of  little Duncan Githinji in a tragedy that   evokes memories of Baby Pendo.     

Kenyans expect police to do much more to insulate their reputation from an array of preventable damage.

Indeed, it does not help that in the same week, police fingerprints are all over an incredulous Sh72 million heist.

Police training is supposed to inculcate values of being constrained, judicious and being circumspect so they do not appear trigger happy. Clearly, whenever ethics crumble, impunity reigns.