Kenyans Condemn Man Captured Assaulting Traffic Officer In Kasarani: "Totally Unacceptable"

• On Sunday, June 2, a traffic police officer was beaten up by a motorist along Kamiti Road in the Kasarani area
• A report filed at Kasarani Police Station indicates the officer had arrested the driver for flouting traffic rules before he attacked him
• Kenyans rebuked the driver, saying it is not right to assault an officer in uniform performing his duties

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

Nairobi - Kenyans have censured an unidentified man who was filmed attacking a police officer in the Kasarani area.

Kasarani: Why did the police officer jump out of the vehicle?

On Sunday, June 2, a heartbreaking video emerged showing a man raining blows and kicks on a traffic police officer along Kamiti Road.

According to the police report seen by TUKO.co.ke, the traffic police officer, Patrick Ogendo, had arrested a motor vehicle that he found flouting traffic rules.

"He spotted a motor vehicle making a U-turn on the road, causing obstruction to other road users. He approached the said vehicle when the driver hit the roadblock and got stuck. The officer entered the vehicle on the front passenger's seat and instructed the driver to drive to the police station," police report read.

While on the way to the police station, the driver of the vehicle drew a sword from under his seat, prompting the officer to jump out of the vehicle.

The driver pursued the officer and started beating him up until he fell into a trench along Kamiti Road.

"On reaching the opposite Quick Mart market, the driver drew a sword under the seat. The officer jumped out of the vehicle for his own safety, and the driver followed him with blows and kicks. He fell on the trench, and in the process, the driver took his police pocket phone battery and left with it," the report added.

The officer was rescued by members of the public, who took him to the nearest health facility before he was referred to Mama Lucy Hospital for further treatment.

Police have arrested one person, Peter Kiragu, as the search for the motor vehicle and its driver continues.

How Kenyans reacted to the viral video

Reacting to the viral video, Kenyans called for stern action to be taken against the driver, with many saying violence against police officers should not be entertained.

Mike Sonko:

"This is totally unacceptable. We shouldn't allow our police officers in uniform to be humiliated to this level."

P.K. Ndegwa:

"Unfortunate situation .., the young man will see dust when the Law catches up with him."

Ali bille:

"Let’s train our traffic police in self-defence techniques can be valuable for their safety."

Robert Alai:

"Anyone who does this to a police officer should be shot dead. How do you assault a uniformed police officer in this manner?"

Kadere wa uba:

This is totally unacceptable. Do not dare hit a police in uniform unless you have another country to go to."

Why was Eric Ochieng detained?

A middle-aged man accused of insulting and injuring a police officer at the Drive Inn police station in Roysambu sub-county, Nairobi, was charged in court.

Eric Ochieng, presented before Makadara Law Courts, was reported to have assaulted Corporal Peter Karanja at his workstation on October 8, 2023.

The accused was alleged to have caused a commotion at the station when he went to follow up on a case he had filed.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke