It's a shocking case of police officers killing 3 suspected criminals in broad daylight. Not unusual in Kenya, unless you consider the execution was in full glare of members of the public. Any responsible media outlet should condemn such brazen killings. But, don't criminals mercilessly kill the same way?
One of the suspects being executed, courtesy Daily Nation
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, 'an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.' But, 'an eye for a smile,' I hasten to add, 'would make the whole world smileless.'
It is understandably quite easy to condemn the killing of suspected criminals, without recourse to the due process of the law. After all, law enforcers are not above the same law they seek to enforce.
But spare a thought for those, who have had the misfortune of being terrorised by these so-called suspects. The trauma generated is almost impossible to erase, whether the 'suspects' kill their victims or spare their lives.
And when police officers are killed in the line of duty, not much protestation is elicited, at least not one bordering a national outcry.
The recent case of a traffic policeman being engaged in a very physical confrontation with a 'suspected,' offender, is a case in point. It was to an extent, reduced to an 'enjoyable' spectacle, with some even siding with the person resisting arrest.
So yes. In a just society, there is no place for killing 'suspects' but the operative word is 'just.' In that ideal world, criminals would not abound in the first place and it's just unfair to always be eager to turn against the very people trying to protect lives and property.
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, 'an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.' But, 'an eye for a smile,' I hasten to add, 'would make the whole world smileless.'
It is understandably quite easy to condemn the killing of suspected criminals, without recourse to the due process of the law. After all, law enforcers are not above the same law they seek to enforce.
But spare a thought for those, who have had the misfortune of being terrorised by these so-called suspects. The trauma generated is almost impossible to erase, whether the 'suspects' kill their victims or spare their lives.
And when police officers are killed in the line of duty, not much protestation is elicited, at least not one bordering a national outcry.
The recent case of a traffic policeman being engaged in a very physical confrontation with a 'suspected,' offender, is a case in point. It was to an extent, reduced to an 'enjoyable' spectacle, with some even siding with the person resisting arrest.
So yes. In a just society, there is no place for killing 'suspects' but the operative word is 'just.' In that ideal world, criminals would not abound in the first place and it's just unfair to always be eager to turn against the very people trying to protect lives and property.
