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Author's novel is an unofficial indictment to Kenya police for extra judicial killings


Title: Den of Inequities
Author: Kinyanjui Kombani
Publisher: Sasa Sema (Imprint of Longhorn)
Year: 2013
Reviewer: Kitui Wakape

As a novel targeting the  mature general public and to some extent university students most prone to insecurity, Kombani's Den of Inquities might as well be an unofficial indictment to the National Police Service on extra judicial killings that have bedevilled our police force for ages.

Going by the reports of police killing innocent civilians on the premise of maintaining law and order, reading Kombani's work will click on the reader's subconscious the numerous TV reports on police killings. It would be an understatement to say that his story sounds and reads like the truth inside of fiction.

Coming hot in the heels of his bestselling novel The Last Villains of Molo on post election violence, Kombani's writing places him as an authority figure on matters  criminal justice system in Kenya.

The author uses the Aliston Report on extra judicial killings as a backdrop for his book which gives his story an authenticity and vividness that some might find gory. Set mainly in the slums of Nairobi, the book captures Omosh and Gosti who get acquainted in a police cell; Omosh for wrongful accusation of fighting and Gosti though a mugger and a jailbird, this time he's innocent. It's through this two that the statement of the law is an arse makes sense for they are sentenced to serve jail time on their own admission of guilt for being ‘drunk' and ‘disorderly.' Actually Omosh weeps after the sentencing for he'd expected to get a lighter sentencing.

On the other hand Aileen, a cabinet minister's daughter falls in love with a member of Chama, a proscribed group that might as well be the Mungiki and her life begins changing. And when someone starts killing policemen, the plot gets interesting as police officers seem defenseless. In retaliation, the officers target the group members, but who really is targeting the police and why?

Kombani tells his story humorously but the weightier matters of police brutality, extra judicial killings, proscribed groups and miscarriage of justice don't escape the readers mind as they are told in all honesty. Though dialogue towards the end doesn't sound that convincing, Kombani's book raises issues that are fundamental and need to be discussed in detail.

Kombani wears many hats. He is a banker, learning facilitator, award-winning entrepreneur and certified business mentor. Perhaps this makes him better placed to write on different issues. And as an author who must be taken seriously, his first work has been turned into a film and is being studied in various universities around the globe.

His other works include Wangari Maathai: Mother of Trees, We Can be Friends, Lost but Found, and a film- Mizoga.

The book is available here https://books2read.com/u/boDnvR

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