Murang'a Police Officer Burnt On Thigh After His Phone Explodes Inside Pocket

• The officer based in Mathioya was with his colleagues heading to Kenol when the incident occurred
• According to his colleagues, Police Constable Simon Chepkirwok had placed his mobile phone in his left front pocket, where it exploded and burst into flames
• The officer suffered burns on the thigh, with his colleagues rushing him to a hospital in Kenol, where he was treated and discharged

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

A police officer is out of danger after suffering burns caused by a supposedly faulty mobile phone that exploded in his pocket.

Constable Simon Chepkirwok was with his three colleagues heading to Kinangop, Nyandarua county, on Thursday morning, September 5, when the incident occurred.

How Murang'a cop suffered burns from faulty phone

The police, in their report, said their colleague's gadget, which he had placed in his left front pocket, exploded and burst into flames.

He was burnt on the thigh.

"It has been reported by Cpl John Anyimo , PC Simon Chepkirwok , PC Wilson Nyaga and PC Cornelius Kembo, all of DCI Mathioya, that while they were travelling from Mathioya to Kinangop on official duty…the mobile phone ‘make ; Tecno BF1’ the property of PC Simon Chepkirwok which was in his left front trouser pocket burst in flames and burnt him on the left thigh," read an excerpt of the police report.

Chepkirwok was rushed to a hospital in Kenol, where he was treated and discharged.

The officers carried the phone for examination.

How RDU officer lost arms while at work

In another instance of a law enforcer getting injured while on duty, a senior officer in Nairobi lost his arms in June this year after a teargas canister exploded in his hands.

Chief Inspector David Maina, attached to the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), was facing off with protesters in the Nairobi city centre on Tuesday, June 18, when he blew up his hands with the explosive.

His colleagues said he had detonated the canister but delayed releasing it to the crowds he had aimed at.

The violent emission detached his palms from the wrists at the scene.

Maina was part of law enforcers who were facing off with protesters who were making their way to parliament to petition lawmakers against adopting the Finance Bill 2024.

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