Africa’s Police Forces Must Uphold Dignity, Not Disgrace

Kenya’s Police Service has arrested an officer captured in viral footage shooting at an unarmed civilian. The incident has drawn outrage across the country and beyond, raising serious concerns about law enforcement conduct in Africa.

photo source: Peoples Gazette

While the swift arrest signals a degree of accountability, the deeper question remains: when will African police forces begin to reflect the values of dignity, fairness, and humanity that the continent so urgently needs?

Law enforcement is meant to serve and protect, not terrorize and intimidate. Yet across many African countries, unprovoked violence by security forces continues to tarnish public trust. From Lagos to Nairobi, stories of harassment, extrajudicial killings, and brute force have become disturbingly frequent. Such behaviour not only violates basic rights but feeds a global perception of African institutions as lawless and undisciplined.

Photo source: nubia magazine

Africa cannot afford this reputation. In a world where every act can go viral within minutes, each officer becomes an ambassador of the continent’s image. When one fails, it casts a shadow far beyond national borders. It gives ammunition to those who see Africa as incapable of orderly governance. It feeds the same narrative that has long been used to justify outside control and paternalism.

African governments must train, monitor, and hold their police officers to the highest standard. Discipline is not weakness; it is the foundation of respect. If the continent wants to command dignity on the world stage, its law enforcers must earn it at home.