It's kill or be killed here in Kenya, thats the name of the game. Remember when I traveled to Nakuru and my driver Mzee stopped and bought a machete to carry since we were going to be traveling at night because "he should kill them before they kill us"? Well, I have experienced this first hand, well not literally but pretty close. So 8 men were killed in my neighborhood a few days ago. I have heard varying stories about what really happened but from what I gather, they were either trying to break into a house up the street, or they were staying there and planning a bank robbery from there. The police were tipped either way and they came and killed the 8 men, just like that. And all the watchmen from the area including mine, went and assisted the police in their efforts. I have asked why don't the police just arrest them and the response is this, they are armed therefore the police just shoot. And this particular squad is called the flying squad and when they are called in, its pretty much a guarantee that someone will die. The general police could show up, the group bribe them to look the other way and nothing gets done. Thats the beauty of the corruption in Kenya. So the neighborhood watchmen have to protect their employers (or they wont have a job) and they come together to get a job done.
I hope this story doesn't scare anyone, and you really shouldn't worry about my safely (mom I am talking to you) because I really trust my watchmen! I mean look what happens when someone just tries to attempt a robbery! Plus, all my neighbors know me and know where I live and they watch out for me. I feel completely safe, that incident was a planned incident and it was either a targetted house, or they were there planning to target a bank. What can they get from little old me? I will give them my 100 shillings I carry...gladly!
So mob justice, people are allowed to retaliate for the sake of the general population. That is why it is dangerous to call out "thief" if someone pickpockets you. Because just anyone on the street will come to your rescue, take justice into their own hands and kill the man. It works if you think about it, why would anyone want to pick your pockets in the middle of a crowded place if there is that possibility that they will be murdered by the mob?
Another example, a friend of mine was giving a man a lift on his motorbike (that's his job). When they arrived at the destination the passenger put a knife to his throat and demanded the kyes and the bike. My friend, not a stupid idiot gladly handed over the keys and watched the man drive off. He called his fellow pikipiki drivers who all arrived and found the man. The 30 of them beat and eventually killed the man who took the bike and my friend got his bike back. See the man threatened him with a knife, so they knew he was armed so they take matters into their own hands, its kill or be killed. And its completely legal, the police cant be bothered with such "petty things".
So thats how it works here, quite different to how things are handled in the States, but it seems to work for them, and I can guarantee you that someone will think twice about stealing a car or breaking into a bank-unless they have a death wish !
2 comments:
that sounds INSANE!! i don't know, it seems like that method of dealing with wrong-doing leaves a lot open to interpretation. i mean, what happens if someone else decides the mob justice was unfair, then who gets punished?
Good question. I mean there are courts and police here, they are just not very effective. But I am sure if you thought it was mob injustice, then you could essentially take them to court I guess. But I really dont think the whole mob will respond unless it was justified. Hmmmmm....
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