The Incident That Sparked National Debate
A viral video has recently captured the attention of many, depicting a Dutch national named Elwin Ter Horst spitting on police officers in Diani. The incident occurred after neighbors reported him for assaulting his Kenyan girlfriend. Upon arrival, the police not only arrested him for domestic violence but also discovered drugs in his home, indicating he was under the influence of something.
What made this incident particularly shocking was not just the act itself, but how the police responded to it. The narrative of a white individual abusing a black person is deeply rooted in the history of colonization. However, what truly stirred Kenyans was the police’s reaction to the abuse from an ordinary foreigner.
A History of Unequal Treatment
The discussion around how Black people treat each other versus how they treat white individuals is one that has been revisited many times. During my travels in Kenya, I have often observed the preferential treatment given to white people compared to locals. In places like Diani, this disparity is evident in how local and international tourists are treated.
There is a theory that those working in the tourism or service industry treat white people better because of the expectation of tips or gifts. While this behavior is common in the tourism sector, it is unprecedented to witness the police’s cowardice when dealing with a foreigner.
Police Conduct and Colonial Mindset
Tourists in foreign countries usually try to avoid breaking laws due to the potential consequences of interacting with law enforcement. However, in Kenya, the police seem to reserve their anger and humiliation for Kenyans. Recent protests have highlighted the contempt that police and defense forces have for their own people.
These individuals, who took an oath to serve all Kenyans, often treat them worse than stray dogs. They beat and shoot them at point-blank range, even if they are simply minding their business during a protest. Yet, they accept humiliation and degradation from white individuals, operating under a colonial mindset that deems the white man superior.
The Double Standard in Justice
Imagine if a black man had been arrested for domestic violence. What would happen to him if he was caught with hard drugs? He would likely face brutal treatment before being cuffed. He would be placed in a holding cell while the police fabricate charges to add to his file, followed by negotiations over how much he is willing to pay before the ink dries. This is the reality for a Kenyan “under the law.”
The Question of Special Treatment
What makes amuzungu(white person) so special? It is because our own people treat them like the young masters of the day, welcoming the colonizer’s descendants with bent backs and diminished egos. If you have ever entered Kenya through the airport and found yourself behind a white person at passport control, you understand the sentiment.
A Call for Change
This national and international embarrassment must end. The mentality of bending over backwards for colonizers and their offspring must be eradicated. The belief that white people are inherently better, richer, or smarter than Black people is what enslaved us in the first place.
We have come a long way since then. We know there is no superiority in race. I believed we had left the colonial mindset behind, but it is clear we have a long way to go in our efforts to decolonize the mind.