The Directorate of Public Prosecutions on Thursday, February 20, withdrew the case against Ian Njoroge, a student who was captured on video assaulting a police officer.
Njoroge, a 19-year-old, went viral after a clip surfaced online showing him assaulting Corporal Jacob Ogendo who later landed in a ditch on Kamiti Road, Mirema in June 2024.
After the video surfaced, authorities tracked Njoroge down on the evening of Sunday, June 2, and interrogated him overnight.
A clip showing Njoroge being questioned by police officers suggested that he was subjected to torture and insults.
In the footage, the teenager revealed that he had never attacked a police officer before and that this was his first such encounter. He claimed that the officer had been requesting an excessive amount of money.
However, the police officer vehemently denied soliciting a bribe after Njoroge alleged that Ogendo had demanded a Ksh10,000 bribe before the situation escalated.
Njoroge was consequently arraigned in court before Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi on Tuesday, June 4, facing multiple charges, including robbery with violence, causing grievous harm, and resisting arrest.
He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The prosecution, represented by the DPP, pushed for Njoroge’s detention, citing the need for further investigation. Despite objections from Njoroge’s legal team, the court granted the prosecution one day to detain him at Industrial Area Prison, where he would undergo a medical evaluation at Kenyatta Hospital.
According to the charge sheet, Njoroge was accused of robbing Corporal Ogendo of a police communication device and a mobile phone valued at Ksh50,000 before inflicting grievous harm upon him.
The video sparked widespread discussion online, as it emerged during a period when police brutality was a pressing issue among Kenyans. Many observers highlighted the ironic nature of the incident, with opinions divided on whether Njoroge was justified in his actions.
In the aftermath of the incident, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko revealed that Ogendo was willing to forgive Njoroge, a student from the Technical University of Kenya (TUK).
A recorded phone call, released by Sonko online on Wednesday, June 5, revealed Ogendo's willingness to meet with Njoroge's family in a bid to reconcile.
As part of the agreement, the family was expected to issue a public apology to both Ogendo and the police force. "Even though I am hurt, I will agree to forgive him," stated Ogendo, displaying a level of forgiveness rarely seen in cases of such nature.
