What would you think when someone mentioned the police, or you saw them driving around?

I know my initial thoughts would be:

- A group who enforce the law
- Who ensure others practice the law
- Practice the law fully themselves whilst setting an example
- Create a safer environment for the public.

I want to highlight on the point “…Practice the law fully themselves whilst setting an example…”

I was driving back home earlier and I saw something which really made me think. I saw a police officer in a police van driving down the road. In the space of 30 – 45 seconds I saw a number of things which I would question “What is going on?”

1) A car was parked up on the side, with their hazards on, blatantly picking someone up. Not a problem I hear you ask… This was a narrow road with just enough space for 2 cars to pass without having someone stop on the side. The car that stopped had caused a small tailback and a safety hazard. This police van just drove straight past it without slowing down or pretty much blinking an eyelid.

2) On approaching the roundabout the police van was going into the 2nd exit, and note this roundabout had 3 exits, The one he came from, and 2 others he could go into. You’d think that he would observe basic traffic rules such as… I don’t know… SIGNALLING?? Not a chance in happyville! Not only did he NOT signal right for the exit he wanted to go to, he proceeded to NOT signal left upon his entry into the exit. As drivers we’ve always been told to signal properly so that the other road drivers and users can be informed. I know some drivers don’t do this but for an organisation to not do this is appalling.

3) On getting to his exit, the policeman put on his left signal for about a quarter of a second and went up on to the pavement to park IMMEDIATELY after an island. Safety hazard? Yup! You betcha!

4) [And this one takes the cake]. I thought to myself, ok… maybe it’s a raid or something with the big van, or some important business that he had to jump on to the pavement. As I passed the van, I saw another policeman getting out of the passenger side. As I went ahead, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the second policeman…. Taking out his BICYCLE from the back.

So what was the conclusion??? Yup. One policeman giving a lift to his mate and ignoring 2 to 3 traffic rules and ignoring a potential road hazard.

Nice. And this is where our taxes are going. Makes you think doesn’t it…?

If you haven’t had a chance to read up on it, or you’re really confused about the situation, here are the highlights.

There has just been a recent election in Kenya, and the two main people in the running are Mwai Kibaki (prevous president) and Raila Odinga.

Now things have been a bit iffy under Kibaki’s control and there was a definite need for a change, but after the recent elections, where Odinga was previously in the lead, Kibaki somehow raced passed in votes and was declared President again.

The fact that there were a huge number of extra votes in the last minutes of the election, and that Kibaki already has a lot of power to get away with what he wants, Raila, suspected that there was some vote rigging going on.

The very suspiscious thing is that half an hour after Kibaki was declared the leader, he was sworn into presidency. 

The supporters of Odinga, are up in arms against, mainly, the Kikuyu people, from where Kibaki is from.  The Kikuyu tribe make up 22% of the complete population of Kenya.

So now there are people being killed, and burnt, and rallies starting up and police using water cannons and the likes.

I think it’s disgraceful that two political statesmen can not just sit down and talk it through like grown men.  I understand that these guys have supporters but if they have enough power with their supporters for them to start riots, then they surely have enough power to stop the riots.

As we all know, politicians can be very stubborn when they want to make a point, and neither one will meet with the other unless the other admits that they were wrong…  Silly huh?

I just feel that there is enough killing and starvation and death and sorrow in the world, without creating some more.

My thoughts and condolences go out to those who are caught in the middle of this fued, to the ones who have lost their lives, and to the family and friends of the victims.

Let me know your thoughts on this topic whether they are for either side, or neutral thoughts.