When he walked into Kaptembwo police station on Wednesday, Loyford Kibaara was a troubled man. In his combat gear, the County Commissioner appeared ready to answer the questions that would come from the journalists before him.

The badge on his shoulders struggled for space with the weight of the County’s insecurity issue.

This was a press conference. A presser where Mr Kibaara and the entire County security committee would reassure Nakuru residents that they were safe and that a few young people were no match for the mighty Kenya Police Service.

When he started his speech, Mr Kibaara alternated between holding his hands together and straightening his uniform. Most often his words were accompanied with hand gestures that emphasized his commitment to flush out gangs in Nakuru.

He was firm. Looking the cameras in the lenses and letting only well thought out words flow from his mouth.

Behind him were two tables with a variety of weapons. They stretched from kitchen knives, to hand made pangas. Out of the group of chilling weapons was a potted plant that turned out to be marijuana.

These items, the County commissioner said were spoils from a raid that the officers had conducted the previous day.
With the items came 78 people, who he said had been arrested in connection with the surge in crime.

Mr Kibaara sounded determined and confident, that he would indeed lead the journey towards restoration of peace for this County.
Behind him, silently agreeing with his boss was the county police commander Zachary Kimani.

The spectacles that had turned dark thanks to the ever present Nakuru sun made it hard to see where his eyes were looking.

They say you can tell a lot about a person’s soul by looking into their eyes but Mr Kimani kept his soul away from the journalists and the public at large.
And when, it was his turn to speak, he did so softly. In perfect Swahili and a hoarse voice the police boss promised to unleash mayhem on the gangs that have terrorized residents in Kaptembwo, Rhonda,Ponda mali and other parts of Nakuru West.

“Mimi sina maneno mengi…wacha mwone vitendo,” he starts his speech that is punctuated with more tough talk.

In proper police fashion, Mr Kimani said that the police would not stop until all the gangs were neutralized, adding that the police would pursue them wherever they went.

A few questions later, the press conference ended and all that were present left the station back to their day jobs.
Outside was a group of people milling around, perhaps there to negotiate the release of some of the 78 that Mr Kibaara said were in custody.

The convoy of police officers and journalists weaved through the well tarmacked Kaptembwo estate leaving behind a scared, worried people.

However, two days after this well curated media briefing, the sense of insecurity across the County still lingers.

Some residents speak of how they have adjusted their schedules to ensure they are home as early as 6.30pm.

Others in desperation have moved to social media calling for the return of a police boss with whom they felt safe.

But as Nakuru residents adopt different coping mechanisms, their state of security lies with these two gentlemen.

editorials