Even as the country waited to see what reforms Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere would implement first, there was a brutal crackdown in Mt Elgon District by General Service Unit (GSU) officers that reportedly left over 30 people nursing injuries.

This is the stuff that makes our calls for comprehensive police reforms more urgent.

The vicious assault was not about searching for a runaway Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) suspect, rather something mundane as matters of the flesh.

This is the form of impunity and misuse of firearms and authority against which Kenyans are in constant crusade.

Granted, the SLDF killed more than 600 people and displaced over 40,000 others between 2006 and last year when a military operation brought the militia gang to its knees. In retaliation, more than 1,000 suspects were arrested and some charged in court.

But the reported brutalisation left physical scars, many widows and widespread calls for reform of the security services.

Matters were not helped that we had just witnessed post-election violence that forever changed the way the world views Kenya. In the same period, there were over 1,200 media mentions of police brutality and violations against fundamental human rights of Kenyans by police.

Again, granted that most law enforcers are hardworking and decent, there were cries for change of the leadership and a return to the rule of law, democracy and accountability — attributes that are sadly lacking in majority of public institutions.

This radical surgery was recommended for heads of many other bodies, including the State Law Office and Judiciary.

Commissions were tasked with making recommendations necessary to black out the culture of impunity in high offices. Chief among these was the Justice Philip Waki-led Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence and Justice Philip Ransley committee on police reforms. Both teams duly submitted points of action.

Barely two weeks ago and after sustained public pressure, a new broom was perched at the top of the Kenya Police.

He hit the ground running and waded into the chaotic public transport sector and organised crime. Sadly, it is his former formation, the GSU, which has cast the first blot before his first week in office is up.

It is not in doubt Kenyans desire the rule of law. Unfortunately institutions of justice are weak, under-funded and thoroughly compromised by corruption, old-boy networks, ethnic considerations and misplaced loyalties. Justice has become the preserve of the highest bidder. Little wonder that over 800,000 Kenyans are still waiting for justice.

Iteere must by now realise the enormity of the task ahead of him since police reforms are expected to eat up Sh15 billion in tax payers’ money.

That is not loose change. It cannot be gainsaid that his second task is reining in the GSU officers blighting the rest of the law enforcement fraternity. He must also get down to resolving kidnappings for ransom and suspected ritual murders.

Further, he must get to the bottom of the four-decade-long slaughter in eastern and northern parts of the country by implementing the small arms mop-up agreement signed by all the Lake Basin states.

Other areas of concern are the spiralling levels and sophistication of crime, vigilantism, extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary detention.

The police force must not be seen to slide back to last year’s levels where it was cited for active participation in mass murder, intimidation and suppression of basic freedoms.

It must, through better intelligence, anticipate and be ready to arrest anybody intent on harming the enjoyment of the common good.

Finally, selective implementation of reforms would only mean that even with a new uniformed sheriff in town, it is business as usual for the merchants of death, extortion and impunity.

Over to you, Mr Police Commissioner.