Police have come under scrutiny once again after the emergence of another harrowing case of alleged brutality involving a single mother.
Caroline Achieng, a single mother, was reportedly subjected to a violent assault by four men in uniform in the Lunga Lunga area in the presence of her 10-month-old baby.
According to an account from the woman herself, she was walking home from work as a bar attendant at around 10pm on Sunday, June 22, when she was confronted by four heavily armed officers near the Lunga Lunga bridge.
"I was stopped by police officers and when I tried to explain my case and ask questions, then warned me against teaching them their job," she narrated.
She claims that after being stopped, the officers asked her where she was going. Despite revealing she was headed home from work, the woman was reportedly assaulted by the officers, who allegedly beat her severely in front of her child.
Despite the injuries, the mother dragged herself to Mukuru kwa Ruben Police Station, where she claims her case was dismissed by officers on duty.
In her account, the woman further claimed the police at the station were adamant the assault was not the work of police officers but "criminals with guns who bought police uniforms from Gikomba."
"I was warned against reporting the incident to the police station. They told me that reporting it would amount to teaching police officers their jobs and there would be consequences," she added.
Incidentally, the case took place just days before a planned protest to commemorate youth who were killed during the anti-Finance bill protests a year earlier.
The June 25 protests took a dark turn as they were marred by incidents of violence, mostly involving police officers.
In the wake of the protests, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights released a preliminary report documenting extensive human rights violations by law enforcers.
According to the report, 19 people lost their lives, while 131 others sustained serious injuries. The statement also reported 179 arrests as well as multiple cases of sexual violence.
From the government's standpoint on police conduct, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has insisted he will continue defending the National Police Service (NPS) despite criticism.
On Saturday, Murkomen responded to criticism by his university law professor, Kivutha Kibwana, over the remarks he made encouraging police officers not to shy away from defending themselves.
While speaking on June 27, Murkomen instructed police officers to shoot individuals who pose a direct threat to officers or attack police stations.
