KDF Responds After Soldiers Are Filmed Assaulting Police Officer In Likoni: "Highly Regrettable"

• Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) condemned an incident where special soldiers were captured on camera assaulting police officers in Mombasa
• KDF said the incident was regrettable and emphasised that the force is committed to the core value of professionalism
• They noted that Military Police and other investigative agencies are probing the incident before taking action

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Mombasa - The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has issued a statement following an altercation between its service members and police officers in Likoni, Mombasa county.

What KDF said about the Likoni incident

On Saturday, April 27, KDF soldiers were captured on camera physically assaulting police officers.

In a statement, KDF said military police and other investigative agencies are investigating the incident to determine the cause of the confrontation.

“This evening at the Likoni Ferry, KDF soldiers were involved in a scuffle that has been circulated through various social media mediums. To establish the circumstances leading to the incident, Military Police, and requisite investigation agencies are currently handling the matter," KDF said.

KDF stated that the incident was highly regrettable and emphasised that the force was beholden to the core value of professionalism.

"This incident is highly regrettable. As KDF personnel we are beholden to the core value of professionalism," they added.

How the Likoni incident happened

The KDF special operations brigade was headed to the Kenya Navy Mtongwe base when they faced off with the police at the Likoni Ferry Island on Saturday, April 27.

The army men on their way to Mtongwe assaulted a security guard at the Likoni Ferry, catching the attention of the police officers present.

When they went to find out the cause of the initial scuffle, the KDF officers turned their rage on the police officer, whose colleagues showed up to defend him.

A section of Kenyans condemned the incident, arguing that KDF soldiers should strive to maintain discipline in public.

Others called on KDF leadership to take disciplinary action against the officers involved in the scuffle.

The incident came a few days after another drama between the police and KDF officers in Turkana county.