Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei is facing criticism over remarks comparing police brutality in Kenya to that in the Netherlands.
In a post shared on Thursday, June 19, the PS claimed Dutch police used more violence than their Kenyan counterparts, referencing a Dutch media report stating that police officers in the Netherlands used force 36,000 times and fired 13 gunshots in 2024.
“For those imagining Kenyan police are the only ones struggling with the scope of the use of force. Dutch police used violence 36,000 times in 2024, fired 13 shots,” Sing’Oei wrote, suggesting the use of force by law enforcement was a global concern, not unique to Kenya.
The Dutch article noted that while complaints about police violence had risen, the total number of incidents remained steady year-on-year.
However, the comparison drew sharp backlash from Kenyans online, many accusing the PS of downplaying the scale and brutality of police violence locally, especially in light of recent deadly incidents.
“That’s Dutch… we are Kenyans. We care about our nation and citizenry. You want to compare when it suits you! How about you compare their foreign relations globally against Kenya’s, too?” one user commented.
“I do not think you have any business comparing ourselves to the Dutch. Do a follow-up and address police brutality that you all keep bird-boxing,” another wrote.
Sing’Oei’s comments come amid rising public anger over police brutality in Kenya, especially following the death of teacher Albert Ojwang and the shooting of hawker Boniface Kariuki in Nairobi’s CBD, incidents that have reignited calls for accountability.
While the government has pledged reforms, the continued use of excessive force and extrajudicial killings has only deepened public distrust in the National Police Service.
