Dj Vnyash
Over the past month, the relationship between the average Kenyan and the police has deteriorated significantly, resulting in widespread distrust due to numerous cases of arbitrary arrests, abductions, kidnappings, and unlawful detentions. As both parties continue to come up with creative strategies to either evade or confront each other, the nation has seen a rise in inventive tactics from both sides.
Kenyans are attempting to outsmart the police, while law enforcement is refining their methods to carry out arrests, abductions, or kidnappings. For weeks, online provocateurs have been caught in various locations—at home, in social spots, at work, on the streets, or even in secluded places in Kinoo.
In more than ninety-eight percent of these instances, police authorities have successfully captured their targets, leading to a surge of “Free So-and-So” posts on social media.
Amidst these events, questions have arisen about how adept the police are and what clever techniques they employ to pinpoint nearly every person on their radar. One person on X asked, “How do these officers know where you are, even in your home? How can they track you so effectively? Who is revealing our locations?”
While a definitive answer to this mystery has yet to be found, some Kenyans suspect that police officers are blending in with society—they walk among us, engage in conversation, and even retweet our anti-government posts, often adding a silly emoji.
As this realization spreads among the unsuspecting, Kenyans have coined a new phrase to thwart any covert actions by the police: “Afande Please.” By using this phrase, they are essentially communicating to the police, “I recognize who you are, I see what you’re doing, and I understand your tactics… But not today.”
The phrase “Afande Please” has gained such popularity that it’s already appearing on T-shirts and is quickly becoming part of Nairobi’s street vernacular. Kenyans are now politely—or not-so-politely—telling the police to back off, seek other targets, or abandon their efforts entirely.
Gathoni Mwanza, a Kenyan on X, advises, “If someone starts texting you random questions like, ‘Where do you stay by the way?’ or ‘I’m at your place, did you move?’ just know these are cops. Don’t stress—just respond with ‘Afande Please.'”
Popular comedian Mwirigi has even created a viral skit showcasing the phrase. In it, he encounters a stranger with suspicious inquiries and promptly dismisses him, saying, “Afande Please… Leave me alone. My people depend on me.”
Influencer Beverlyn Kwamboka also experienced the “Afande Please” reaction after tweeting, “Considering how things are, you all will have to go faceless. So, is that cartoon/car the one we’ll use for the poster? Get faceless, everyone.”
As trick questions become a cause for concern, people are approaching even their closest friends with caution, wary of exposing themselves to potential kidnappers amid the ongoing crisis.
“We are living in dangerous times. In this political climate, you can’t just share your personal information with anyone,” warns High Court advocate Gachie Mwanza. “Intelligence officers will do anything to track you down, even using your closest friends or colleagues. It’s crucial to stay aware of your surroundings and who you interact with.”
Silverio Omari
