UPDATE Thursday, April 2: Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho gifted a woman that had touched Kenyans hearts after wearing repurposed plastic bottles as facemasks.
During a press conference in Mombasa, the governor offered her Ksh100,000 to aide her in setting up a business.
The governor also offered her many facemasks enough to share with her neighbours.
Guns and bullets aside, Coast Region Police Commander Rashid Yakub has proved that police officer have a loving humane side, despite an overwhelmingly negative public view of the police service, after his inspiring act.
In a video that surfaced online on Wednesday, April 1, the police boss was moved by a woman and her two children who had made the most pitiful effort to protect themselves against the Covid-19 virus.
While everyone around them at the Likoni Channel crossing was wearing a protective mask in line with the government's guidelines, the three had only managed to repurpose plastic bottles into something resembling a mask. Touched by the plight of the three who stood out in the most unenviable way, the commander bought new facemasks for them and personally put them on their faces.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Yakub stressed on the need to be compassionate to the less-endowed in society, "we too have families and when I saw the lady and her daughter, I saw my family in them. That's why I had the responsibility to assist them, we should all be humans first before anything else."
The commander also handed her money to buy food, an act that inspired another police officer as well as Kenyans who had queued nearby.
The next officer is seen, in the video, handing the woman a Ksh 1,000-shilling note to "make sure she buys her children food."
Another civilian came in with a bottle of sanitiser and handed it to her. He later showed her how to sanitise.
To many, the act was a refreshing departure from a heartbreaking reputation police officers have earned since the 7 p.m. - 5 a.m. curfew was implemented on Friday, March 27.
''We are civil servants, members of society are our bosses. We should be able to work for them and be friendly to them. Right now we have only one enemy - Coronavirus - we should all work together to fight this enemy," stated Yakub in response to escalating cases of police brutality.
There was a huge outcry on the first night of the curfew after a video surfaced of officers assaulting Kenyans, some being bonafide essential services providers.
A driver was hospitalised on Saturday, March 28, after he was reportedly beaten by police officers in Nakuru while transporting foodstuff to a Kakamega supermarket.
On the night of Monday, March 30, a 13-year-old boy was shot dead while at the balcony of their apartment in Nairobi by police officers who were allegedly implementing the curfew.
''Kenyans should learn to follow the law and abide by it. We are not pastors...we do not preach, a criminal won't like us but a law-abiding person will. Follow the law and the police won't follow you around, Yakub stated in regard to the disregard for the law exhibited by some Kenyans during the curfew period.
"Rashid... a role model to the police department... acts of humanity," praised Zacharia Orenge on social media.
"May God bless you with the desires of your heart and keep you safe officer. We appreciate and know the difficulties you guys face risking your lives to protect citizens," shared Rooney Linsco.
Below is the video of the officer's heroic act:
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