2nd paragraph:
"Kiprop, who, like many elite Kenyan runners is nominally a police officer"
WTF? Am I an idiot, what does this mean exactly? They make their top runners police officers, how does that go.
Oxymoran
Black Cop
Some government program where they pay you to train most of the time and then you agree to be a police officer for some time. There's also one for working prisons, defense, maybe some others.
Professionalising Peripheral Police Officers in Kenya: Implications For Curriculum Development
Kenedy Onyango Asembo, Mutendwahothe Walter Lumadi
The National Police Service Act of 2011 recognises the officers’ key role in complementing the national police in rural areas, where police strength is inadequate.
The origin of PPOs as community police in Kenya dates back to 1948, when the British Colonial Administration established them as an unpaid volunteer force with its own hierarchy and rank structure (Mkuutu 2005). It has therefore existed as an ancillary force armed by the state to provide policing services in areas where police presence is not adequate. Such services have included collecting information and protecting livestock against stock theft, especially in pastoralist areas. To date, the force comprises mainly volunteers operating within their own localities (Mkuutu & Wandera 2013).
A majority of Kenyans in the pastoralist areas view the PPOs as vital in providing the first response to security threats, due to their local knowledge and ability to operate in harsh climates and over difficult terrain. The PPOs in Terare County, for instance, continue to provide security for kraals and caravans and also fulfil the roles traditionally carried out by police. Their role as security personnel comprises 90% of police duties and is expected to increase as Wakondo town expands due to exploration for and discovery of oil. They have been recruited to guard schools, churches, private enterprises and NGOs, particularly those outside urban centres. Due to the low numbers of national police officers in the area, the business community in Terare is expected to continue needing their security services (Mkuutu & Wandera 2013). In Kabade County, however, the PPOs work as scouts or rangers in conservancies. Whereas the traditional PPOs generally have only rudimentary support, those employed as scouts are provided with uniforms, some training and salaries, making it an attractive employment option.
Studies have indicated that despite their noble role, poor recruitment and training of the PPOs have compromised their professionalism and made them a source of concern (Mkuutu & Wandera 2013).
Hope this helps somewhat.
You need to get update
In the 1980s and 1990s, most Kenyan runners were in the army: e.g. John Ngugi, Paul Kipkoech, Paul Tergat etc...........................
Its similar to the US collegiate system where football and basketball players are nominally students
The army and now the police provides runners with facilties and a stipend to help in training.
Kenya and other countries probably look at the US Trials results wonder why the best US runners are in the army.
I doubt Kenyan police act like American pigs do. I can see Kenyans respecting each other and trying to better their society, not like the bullying, cowardly pigs we employ in this craphole of a country.
Tim "Pissflaps" Graham wrote:
I doubt Kenyan police act like American pigs do. I can see Kenyans respecting each other and trying to better their society, not like the bullying, cowardly pigs we employ in this craphole of a country.
Cough* cough*
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