- Kenya ranks first with the highest police distrust in Africa, with 60% of the population having a negative perception about the police.
- At least 46% of the population from the 39 surveyed countries faces difficulty in accessing assistance from the police.
- 34% have experienced a lack of respect from the police.
A recent report by AFROBAROMETER shows a concerning erosion of confidence in authority, including the police, whom many believe are disrespectful, thus diminishing their trust in the institutions ability to act fairly or in their best interest.
There is reigning skepticism among the citizens about how the police handle subtle matters that need serious consideration. Disrespect in such higher-ranking public institutions expected to protect and secure the interests of citizens sometimes creates a perception of bias or corruption, reinforcing pre-existing skepticism about their integrity.
Police officers in many African countries are accused of indulging corruption by demanding bribes during routine perations or colluding with the corrupt to protect their interests instead of the general public. For instance, in Kenya, there are several occasions where the police collect handouts from the public service vehicles in their routine operations.
Arbitrary arrests and forced detentions are frequently reported even during the peaceful protests against poor sercice delivery to the people. In June, July, and August, a demonstration that started in Kenya spread all the way to Nigeria and Uganda.
What started as a peaceful demonstration turned violent after the police itself became violent on the unharmed citizens. Many were abducted by the police, taken to torture chambers in undisclosed sites, others killed, while some are still missing up to date.
The same sort of misconduct and excessive use of force happened in Nigeria during the ten days of rage against bad governance. Up to date, no police officer has been brought to book to face the law despite the evidence captured on cameras.
Human rights violations, including harassments during identity checks, at traffic stops, and failure to uphold the rights of the vulnerable groups, have created a great disconnect between the common citizens and the police force, further eroding trust.
Among the citizens surveyed by the AFROPBAROMETER in 39 countries, at least 46% face difficulty in accessing police assistance, with 45% of them being women and 47% men. 49% of participants aged 18–35 years are facing difficulty in accessing police assistance. 47% of the participants facing the same problem live in urban centers, while 46% live in rural areas.
The report places Kenya on a grey spot, with at most 60% of its population upholding a worse negative perception against the police. This has led to distrust in the police force, which on several occasions has been in the spotlight over human rights violations and for orchestrating corruption.
At least 34% of all the participants in the 39 countries have reportedly experienced a lack of respect by the police when obtaining support. Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon and Guinea top the list the least, with a large portion of the population exceeding 50% feeling least respected by the police
