The National Police Service has lost all its anti-riot equipment because Gen Z demonstrations continue without interruption, according to internal audits. The Ministry of Interior faces an absolute operational disaster because the government lacks civil unrest control capabilities, which resulted from excessive ammunition use during the past months.
The “twisted” reality of this crisis lies in the unprecedented burn rate of non-lethal hardware. Security forces used all their available tear gas canisters and water cannon reserves during the protests, which lasted several weeks.
The supply chain for these crowd-control agents has become blocked because sources indicate that international vendors cannot deliver their products. Frontline officers must use outdated equipment that does not meet operational requirements because they cannot access needed crowd-control agents.
The police force faces a dangerous situation because it exists as a physical entity yet lacks necessary technological equipment. Police interactions with protesters will escalate into live ammunition violence because non-lethal deterrents no longer exist.
The absence of rubber bullets and chemical irritants removes the middle ground of engagement, potentially turning the next minor skirmish into a lethal confrontation.
The budgetary strain of replacing these armories, which need replenishment, creates an overwhelming financial burden. The government faces public resistance against needed secret Sh10 billion funding, which the government requires to replenish riot control equipment, because people want more hospital funding than teargas funding.
The situation has progressed beyond public order issues because it has now become a total breakdown of all operational systems that maintain state security. Kenya exists in a dangerous situation because its police force operates without resources while social unrest reaches its highest level.
The armory maintains no supplies, the budget contains no funds, and the public observes the situation. Kenyan law enforcement will face new serious risks because the state lacks sufficient funds to sustain its “non-lethal” operational capabilities.
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