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Hip hop artiste Rabbit (Kennedy Ombima) recalls spending a night at the Central Police Station in Nairobi in March 2013.
“The officer who arrested me did not seem to recognise me, and I decided I would not introduce myself as Rabbit.” But the following day, he says, a few officers spotted him and even took selfies.
“One of the officers said they were particularly struck by my humility. They asked why I had not bothered to introduce myself as an artiste as is the norm with musicians. I told them I had missed spending time in a police cell! They laughed and became very friendly,” says Rabbit.
“No one is above the law. It is important to comply whenever police ask you to identify yourself. Personally, I respect them and their work, and I see no reason in giving them a hard time. Some celebs tend to be full of themselves, which pushes the police to react harshly,” says Rabbit, who is popular for many hits, including Ligi Soo.
Mombasa-based, hip hop artiste Fikra Mteule (Eugene Orang’i Sibanda) says, “Introducing yourself using your stage name is like addressing a cop using his mother tongue.”
Fikra, the Mumesahau singer and Susumila (Yusuf Kombo) whose hit songs Ngangari Kinoma and Siasa Duni are club anthems, both agree that artistes clash with police because of ego.
“We expect police to know us, and therefore respect us. But police want to prove they are in charge!”
Johny Skani (John Wanyama) of the Reduce Kidogo fame however believes that Tanzanian cops treat their stars with more respect.
