A dramatic video of a Kenyan police officer torching his service uniform has sparked widespread debate on the mental health and welfare of security officers in the country.
The footage, which circulated widely online, showed the officer at a dumpsite where he removed his blue police uniform, placed it on the ground, and set it ablaze with a lighter.
Dressed in civilian clothing, he expressed anger and exhaustion, citing years of frustration in the service.
The officer revealed he had worked for six years without receiving a promotion or salary increment.
According to him, the pay he earns is too little to sustain his family and meet pressing obligations, including caring for ailing parents.
He also admitted that his health had suffered under the strain of police duties.
“I have worked for six years now with no change in salary. My father is sick, my health is failing, and the demands of this job are overwhelming,” he lamented.
The officer added that his attempt to resign had been unsuccessful, leaving him feeling trapped in the system.
As he burned the uniform, he kept aside his boots and belt, remarking that they could still be useful.
“This is too much. There is no difference between this job and doing menial work. I am just tired,” he declared.
The officer went on to thank a church bishop who had helped him secure the job, but stressed that he could no longer endure the pressures of policing.
“The responsibilities are too many. I cannot handle it anymore. I would rather do something else,” he concluded.
The video triggered a flurry of reactions online.
While some Kenyans sympathized with his frustrations, others criticized his decision, calling it disrespectful to the uniform.
A few even suggested he should face disciplinary action.
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