Hello and welcome to the Evening Brief Newsletter where we are concerned with the brazen attack on police stations across the country. Also, stick around for an expert's take.
Situational Awareness: The Kenyan shilling's continued growth has eased pressure on the unemployment rate and job scarcity.
Stanbic Bank, in its monthly Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) survey, showed that staffing and inventories continued to grow in March, a phenomenon credited to a drop in inflation.
Love for Flying
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has celebrated a spike in aircraft registrations even as experts foresee a continued drop in vehicle imports.
The CS attributed the uptick to President William Ruto's tax reforms in the aviation sector which saw three taxes eliminated altogether.
A source at KCAA confirmed to me that 1,659 were registered in the 2022/2023 Financial Year and from 1,624 in the previous period.
What Murkomen is Saying: "Notably, the industry players acknowledged the tax reforms employed by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto in the sector, which have attracted more investors, resulting in increased aircraft registration and job opportunities for young people."
Catch Up Quick: The Finance Act 2023 saw the state exempt importers of aircraft from the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), 3.5 per cent import declaration fee (IDF) and the 2 per cent Railway Development Levy (RDL).
The Twist: At the same time, the state increased levies on fuel including VAT from 8 per cent to 16 per cent and removed all subsidies therefore affecting road transportation.
Sinkhole: Data from the Central Bank has shown that the shaky economy had pushed Kenyans to reduce their spending on car imports by Ksh25.92 billion leading to steep importation drops.
In the last financial year, the value of car imports dropped to Ksh108 billion from the previous year's value of Ksh130 billion. Experts attributed the drop to the volatility of the shilling which has been on rebound in recent months.
Glimmer of Hope: Stakeholders in the sector now estimate that the price of second-hand imported cars is likely to drop by Ksh100,000 by June this year.
Insecurity Menace
Concerns are cropping up over a disheartening trend of civilians attacking police stations and injuring police officers in the process
Our survey shows that more than six police stations have been vandalised by goons since January 2024.
The Attacks: At the end of March, angry residents broke into Githabai Police Station and ejected the suspect before stoning him to death for reportedly stealing cows.
Early in March, a group of individuals attempted to storm Lang'ata Police Station to rescue individuals who had earlier been arrested for trespassing on President William Ruto's farm.
In February, Krinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina led a group of individuals to Baricho Police Station demanding an explanation for the release of a chief who had allegedly impregnated a minor
In the same month, angry residents stormed Kapsarur Police Station in Nandi and overpowered officers after a suspect was found dead under their custody.
A group of 300 youth stormed Tangulbei Police Station, Tiaty East in Baringo, last week protesting the death of a 24-year-old in their custody.
On April 2, nine police officers were hospitalised after sustaining injuries when residents attacked them at Koyonzo Police Station over the killing of two guards at Koyonzo Market
The Damage: In almost all the incidents, the damage was recorded with some police stations set on fire altogether.
Expert Take: Jacob Elkanah, a Media Consultant, Criminologist and Security Expert, however, argued that the attack on police officers was an unprecedented trend and called on Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to rein the perpetrators in.
"Some incidences are politically motivated where they think that those politicians funding them are above the law but eventually they will suffer," he stated.
"Kenyans need to respect security apparatus whether they are irritated, angry or annoyed. They should not take the law into their own hands. There is a time and a day they will need such apparatus for their safety." (Check my responder text with Elkanah in full below)
Our inquiries to the National Police Service on how it was handling the issue were met with silence.
Full Chat With Jacob Elkanah
Elkanah is a Media Consultant, Criminologist, and Security Expert
Derrick Okubasu: Cases of residents attacking Police Stations have been on the rise. Why do you think that is the case?
Jacob Elkanah: Some incidences are politically motivated where they think that those politicians funding them are above the law but eventually they will suffer.
Kenyans need to respect security apparatus whether they are irritated, angry or annoyed. They should not take the law into their own hands. There is a time and a day they will need such apparatus for their safety.
Derrick Okubasu: What should the government and the police do to rein them in?
Jacob Elkanah: Some civic education needs to be done in those areas and they must respect the security apparatus.
The police should arrest those involved even if they are politicians or individuals in government.
Here are five other stories you might have missed today;
1.Housing PS Charles Hinga reveals that the BRT project was derailed by Covid-19 and says the project is now back on course.
2. Kajiado Governor, Joseph Ole Lenku, says he walked into State House and asked former President Uhuru Kenyatta to fire him as Interior CS.
3. UDA insists that President William Ruto did not break any law by appointing board chairs in government institutions to UDA leadership.
4. Ksh1 trillion wiped off Kenya's debt levels on account of the strengthening shilling.
5. BlackRock, the world’s leading asset manager with a market cap of Ksh16 trillion, has identified Kenyan stocks as the best-performing globally.
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This newsletter was written by Derrick Kubasu and edited by Brian Muuo.
Washington Mito contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo.
