29 police officers killed on duty this year, Acting Interior CS Mudavadi reveals

The number of police and prison officers who have died in the line of duty this year has decreased compared to last year.

The nation has lost 29 officers this year, down from 37 last year. Most of those killed this year died as a result of terrorist attacks and livestock theft raids, while two officers were killed following an attack by members of the public.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the acting Interior minister, made the revelations on Friday while leading a ceremony to honor police officers who have fallen in the line of duty at the Embakasi Administration Police Training College.

The morning event was filled with sorrow and grief, with tears flowing from widows, relatives, and friends of police officers who lost their lives.

Benson Nderitu Mwangi was one of those who arrived to mourn his 29-year-old son who passed away in November, in the early days of his service with the police department. His dream was cut short by an attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants in Mandera County.

“They were attacked in Mandera. If the government had equipped the police properly, they wouldn’t have been killed," he said.

However, it was particularly saddening that two officers were killed after being attacked by members of the public while on duty. One of them was trying to rescue young girls from undergoing FGM in Elgeyo Marakwet.

Inspector of Police Douglas Kanja stated: "Kenyans need to respect the police and understand that no one is above the law."

Despite the government’s promise to offer additional job opportunities to widows and orphans of fallen officers in the police service, there is also a Veteran Bill in the works to fast-track compensation and improve working conditions for police officers.

"We have already employed six widows and three orphans into the police force, and we will increase this number," Mudavadi noted.

A list of the fallen officers' names was officially unveiled at the memorial site, as a tribute to their sacrifice in protecting the country.