Omoding takes over police and judicial reforms

At first, it was a merely a rumour — a little news item tucked away in backstreet newspapers of the gutter press variety. Then mainstream newspapers began publishing the reports. Soon after, television viewers were being treated to macabre scenes of suspected thieves chewing grass like goats.

This is the work of a Teso witchdoctor, one Omoding, who also stands as the harshest indictment of the police and Kenya’s judicial process.

In villages across western Kenya, when property, be it livestock, cars or maize, is stolen, no sensible victim bothers to report to the police. They simply seek out the fearsome Teso witchdoctor and his magic. In no time, the suspect returns the stolen goods and proceed to chew grass on fours, bleating like goats.

Most efficient

In the hilarity of it all, it is forgotten that Omoding solves his cases in 24 hours in what is probably the quickest and most airtight investigation, trial and sentencing ever seen in modern times. His is a feat that the police and the Judiciary would require months, even years, to achieve. And that is assuming that they get cracking in the first place. Or, that the cops arrest the right person, which would be a miracle, and do not bungle the investigation which is another given.

When, early this year, the police attempted to recover stolen cattle in Isiolo and the surrounding areas, villagers complained that they did not bother to carry out any investigation. They simply arrived and drove away any livestock they bumped into.

This view was vindicated when Samburu elders flatly refused to accept stolen cattle that the police had "recovered" saying those were not the cattle that had been stolen. One imagines, however, that Omoding the crime buster would have sorted that matter out by forcing the rustlers to bring all the stolen cattle to Kasarani Stadium in rapid time.

But it’s not just in matters police and Judiciary that the Government has taken a backseat. Keen observers will not have failed to notice the stifling presence of Red Cross workers at disaster scenes in recent months.

Taking the back seat

While they are volunteers who are supposed to assist government officials, the police and the army seem only too willing to leave the red coats to sort out every bloody mess.

They were at the petroleum fire tragedy. They were at Nakumatt searching through smouldering rubble for the remains of fire victims. Most recently, they were at Kiambaa burying the victims of post-election violence.

It’s no surprise, though. After all, our soldiers were quaffing cheap beer in the barracks when prisoners were digging the grave of their deputy commander in chief, the late Vice President Michael Kijana Wamwala.