Kenyan police authorities are investigating a case of a female police officer complaining about mistreatment and sexual harassment, in a video shared widely.
In the video, the officer is asking that she be allowed to resign “peacefully” from the service, saying she had written multiple resignation letters but they were yet to reach the head of the police, Inspector General Hilary Mutyambai.
The officer based in the coastal city of Mombasa expressed her frustration over injustice and corruption by the police’s Internal Affairs unit – which deals with complaints against the police – and said they had not done anything to help her case.
She said such frustration was the reason police officers were committing suicide or killing others.
“Police officers kill each other because of this. Just help me to get out of this job. I will survive outside this,” she pleaded.
On Sunday, the police inspector-general ordered independent investigations into the matter and a report to be given within seven days.
“I have learnt of a video trending on social media where a female Police Officer is captured lamenting against unfair treatment and sexual harassment,” Hilary said on Twitter.
“The officer is attached to the Traffic Department in Mombasa County. She had complained against a merchant hence subjected to officers resulting into a departmental action. I have directed the Gender and Children Directorate to independently investigate the matter and give a report within 7 days.”
Kenya’s Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i recently announced a plan to ban romantic relationships between police officers – aimed at reducing the high rate of crimes of passion among officers.
He said there had been an increase in spousal murders in past months among police officers.