Charles who? The anatomy of a great political silencing

Police Spokesman Charles Owino adjusts his cap before he addressed the media on the ongoing country-wide police recruitment at their Westlands office, Nairobi on February 4, 2021 [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

For many years, Charles Owino was the famous face of the mboys in blue, the much-chastised National Police Service. I understand, for reasons I cannot fathom, the formulation of “mboys” is gender-inclusive.

With his rotund face and balding pate, darting eyes and the hint of a smile, Owino could be suave and charming. Alternately, he could be brash and full of what Kenyans like to call kifua.