The mental state of the Kenyan men and women in uniform.

Kenya's top military leadership.

In Kenya criticism of the military and in general the disciplined force is a taboo and their health is rarely discussed. But when soldiers and police men and women start misbehaving in the public; they invite civilians to ask questions.

What is the mental state of the Kenyan men and women in uniform?

For a long time the public has believed that by paying and equipping The Kenya Defence Forces and The Kenya Police Service well, they would eventually be able to get rid of their erratic behaviors towards the public.

I have a great admiration of the military. My great grandfather served in the World War 1, my grandfather fought in the Mau Mau war for independence and three of my brothers are currently serving or have served in various capacities in the KDF. Inside the fancy uniforms of the military and the police service is a person having a mental breakdown.

One of my brothers joined the Kenya Army straight after high school in the early 2000’s. He served two tours in Darfur- Sudan and came back as a changed person. He often displayed erratic behaviors that showed a person who was not in their right state of mind. For a while the whole family thought he had been bewitched and he was taken to numerous salvation pastors by our dear mother but to no avail.

A group of Kenya Police officers.

He (my brother) preferred starving himself for days, sleeping on the floor and sometimes even sleeping outside. He would disappear for weeks only to be found in a police cell having spent all his monthly income in alcohol. My brother who held the rank of Private was manning the gate of the Department of Defence- DoD when he was dishonorably discharged. Last I heard of him, he was seen somewhere in Meru with no cloths and begging for food.

When Major Mugure killed his family the KDF responded by discharging him. A person involved in crime such as murder should be subjected to a mental evaluation to ascertain their mental state before any action including legal action is taken. Major Mugure committed a crime. What justice will we be serving when he is discharged from his duties, charged in a civilian court and sentenced to a number of years to serve in a Kenyan Prison? If Major Mugure was having a mental distress when he committed the crime he needs to be treated first. Major Mugure will not be getting a token of appreciation for his service. Is it fair to his dependents if he committed the crime while he was sick? If major Mugure was having a mental disorder, would we have helped by imprisoning him?

A few weeks ago we saw old grown up men beating up a small JKUAT student girl. How would you explain a grown up man stepping on the head of a small university girl with a military grade boot? What is the mental state of this kind of person? There is wrong something in someone’s head when you beat up a fellow human being without feeling any remorse.

In developed nations one needs to go through a mental evaluation and pass to be cleared to hold a firearm in public. For the case of police officers after every traumatic incident one needs to see a psychologist to be evaluated how the incident has affected them and how will the incident affect their future judgments while discharging their duties.

In Kenya it seems the system favors discipline over mental health care.     

Kenya Army.

                                                           

The government has invested billions of shillings in the welfare of the police service. The government has asked the police to go and live in the civilian population in a move to humanizing the Police service. I believe humanization should start in the head. Before the soldiers and police move out of the camps and barracks have they been assessed mentally and cleared to live and integrate with the civilians?

As Kenyans we sleep well at night perform our daily duties as usual because we know and believe that our military and Police are keeping us safe. But as they perform the duty of keeping us safe how safe are they? How much are they affected mentally as they discharge their duties?

As a staunch Pan Africanist: I believe African problems deserve African solutions. Our African society should accept that our men and women in the disciplined forces are human beings with emotions and feelings not machines. As a Kenyan taxpayer apart from paying them well and providing them with modern equipment’s; we should also provide mental and social support.

Diversity of Kenyan Police Service.