Why do I still shudder in front of the police

It’s one thing to be an activist, to stand up for what’s right and face tear gas and batons, but it’s another to have your beliefs and ideals tested and criticized by state atrocities that lead to hospitalizations and continued suffering.

Law student Joshua Okayo still shudders at the sight and sound of police.

He is the Chairman of the Student Governing Council of the Kenya School of Law.

The activist was among the leaders of the Gen Z protests in June and July.

He said that memories of torture His captors’ hands are still raw and will likely haunt him for the rest of his life.

They say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But it’s not easy.

Okayo was found unconscious in Murang’a after unidentified people arrested him at his house in Rongai for his alleged involvement in the June 25 protests against tax increases, contempt for the people and the sorry state leaders.

He had been warned of a kidnapping and was about to leave in search of a hiding place when he was seized and handcuffed. A hood was placed over his head and taken into a car.

They drove around and he was questioned about who was financing the demonstrations and if it was someone from the government. He said he didn’t know.

Then they threw him in the trunk and drove him to an interrogation room where the violence began.

After getting no answers, Okayo said his captors took him out of the room, put him in a car, drove him around, stopped and threw him out.

Okayo said her captors took her SIM card, uninstalled her WhatsApp and removed money from her phone.

He told the Star in an exclusive interview that these harrowing and enlightening events changed his perception and attitude toward police, for the worse.

Okayo said that during his 48-hour detention, he felt violated and that his constitutional right to peaceful protest and civil liberties were taken away from him.

KSL’s student council president said the events were so traumatic and, initially, such a setback that he almost lost track of his studies.

However, his captors also taught him a powerful and empowering lesson about how law enforcement actually works, as opposed to how it is supposed to work, according to their mottos: Service to All and Service with Dignity.

Of course, most police officers are honest, but not all, and even the sight of the good guys makes him shiver.

“I feel like they took a lot of steps back from me, even though I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t attend classes for two months. For weeks I couldn’t concentrateI prefer to read. I forced myself to read for exams. All these things combined to make me adopt a hateful attitude towards the police and the government,” he said.

The activist still feels physical pain from his body being beaten by his captors and pays the price for what he didn’t do.

“Luckily, my friends at KSL raised money to cover the initial hospital costs, but after that I went to the hospital several times due to problems that surfaced later,” he said. declared.

What’s worse, Okayo said, is his belief that President William Ruto has yet to adequately address the concerns that sparked the protests.

“He didn’t address them. Certain (tax) provisions of the finance bill are returning. We wanted some CSs to be replaced but they were just reshuffled. Nothing hurts as much as this,” he said.

Domestic opposition and Gen Z protests forced Ruto to withdraw the bill and apparently listen to the protesters.

“It feels like the president doesn’t care or believes there’s nothing we can do right now. He told us he would fire the entire Cabinet, but bring back 60 percent of those we wanted to leave.”

The student leader said they still believed President Ruto’s administration was not committed to fighting corruption.

It is regrettable that the kidnappings, of which he was only one of the victims, have not yet ended, he said, adding that these events demonstrate a violation of rights and impunity.

He said Ruto had “a chance to restore the image of his administration”, adding that change would depend on the president himself.

Okayo said if he were in Ruto’s place, he would make reasonable appointments and “thus create a team that would transform Kenya and lead that team.”

“But he is repaying his political debts. He appoints friends, allies of the party, not based on merit but based on affiliation. He did poorly in terms of appointments,” said the future lawyer.

The student leader said that if he were president, he would take up a cause, like eradicating corruption, and fight it head and soul.

“But he doesn’t fight corruption… that’s what upsets us.” If we truly fight corruption, we will have surplus budgets, but this is only possible if these taxpayers speak only one language.”