'I was taken out of context': Senator Malala apologizes over remarks on police officers

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has apologised following his viral remarks over the qualifications of the Kenyan police service.

Taking to social media, Malala regretted the sentiments in which he claimed police officers do not necessarily need higher education, but rather just “two hands and legs” to do the job.

He said the remarks, which have since attracted criticism from the public, were misunderstood, further highlighting the importance of police officers in the country.

“My attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media about my utterances on the police. I wish to categorically state that my remarks were taken totally out of context,” Malala wrote on his Facebook account.

“Their importance to us cannot be underscored. It is in light of this that I wish to withdraw my remarks and apologise to our disciplined forces for the discomfort my remarks may have caused.”

In the said video, the lawmaker while addressing a Kenya Kwanza rally in Western Kenya on Tuesday said that police officers needed not to be educated in order to handle firearms.

"Kazi ya askari si nikushika bunduki tu pekee yake? Hio inahitaji masomo yoyote kweli? Kama mtu amemaliza Form Four na alipata C plus, tumpeleke university asome; kazi ya askari ni hawa jamaa ambao wako hapa wenye waliacha shule na hawakufanikiwa kumaliza shule,” Malala said.

Following the assertions which seemed to anger most netizens, the National Police Service (NPS) came out to censure the legislator owing to the fact that he was a leader.

“We as NPS fraternity, including our dear families and friends, are utterly disappointed with such unwarranted and outrageous remarks, which we find too demeaning and only aimed at scandalizing a noble profession deployed in the service and good of the public,” NPS spokesperson Bruno Shioso said in a statement.

“It is therefore regrettable and a pity that these remarks came from a national leader still aspiring to lead.”