Police Spokesperson Charles Owino on Wednesday, November 13, tried to make light of the muggings at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) while addressing students at the institution.
While addressing student leaders who had presented a petition to the police, Owino joked about the muggings referring to the students as 'lazy'.
One of the student leaders stated, "Sir, I don't know whether you are getting the intensity of the situation, people are getting mugged as early as 4 PM."
To which Owino responded, "During our day, you couldn't mug us. Why are you people lazy? Why are these people mugging you?"
His remarks irked the students who'd gathered who accused the official of not taking them seriously.
Owino managed to calm the students down urging them to air their grievances to the authorities before matters escalate to the point of causing disruptions.
"You don't need to take action in your own hands. I'd like to see more student leaders come to my office. You've never come. I've sat in this office for 12 years. I've never seen someone from JKUAT," he stated.
The leaders took the officer to task declaring that they had notified the police of the insecurity in the area without much action being taken.
"We met the OCPD for four hours but later that evening after meeting her, three ladies were assaulted and mugged," the student representative stated.
Owino acknowledged the receipt of a petition by the student leaders promising to forward it to the Inspector General of Police for further action.
"I'll take the petition and give it to the Inspector General of Police. It is our responsibility to protect you and the community," he stated.
The police spokesperson also noted a bias in the student leadership observing that there were no female leaders despite one standing right next to him, "I don't see women leadership and tribal balance in the leadership."
The students raised their voices faulting Owino for his flawed observation.
Here is the video courtesy of Nairobi News:
