A group of Kenyans reacted angrily as police officers manhandled a young man, Clifford Otieno whom they arrested in Muthurwa, Nairobi on Tuesday, February 18.
An amateur video captured Otieno being roughed up by the officers before being awkwardly carried away by four policemen who held on to his limbs causing Otieno to fall down on his back, sparking the angry reaction from area residents.
Otieno had sought to stop the police from destroying a small mabati shop in the area owned by his friend which police claimed was encroaching on the road. Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Wednesday, February 19, Otieno claimed that the police officers continued to beat him up at Railways Police Station where he spent the night, accusing him of inciting the residents who turned on them.
He explained that he had been around the area when around seven police officers arrived seeking to destroy the shop.
Otieno alleged that he appealed to the police not to destroy the shop as the owner, a friend of his, was not present.
"I was just hanging around when the police officers came. They had tried to get money from the shop owner before and they didn't get any so I think they returned to destroy the shop.
"I intervened and tried telling them not to destroy the shop while the owner wasn't around but they didn't listen and started manhandling me when I told them I would record a video.
"They took me to Railways and beat me up saying that I had incited the people," Otieno told this writer.
He further disclosed that another friend of his identified as Alexander was arrested as he tried to defend him.
Otieno revealed that, after his arrest, the officers proceeded to destroy the shop.
He was released from custody at Railways Police Station on Wednesday, February 19, soon after a video of his arrest began circulating on social media.
The National Police Service was yet to respond to our queries by the time of publication.
Watch the video of Otieno's arrest below:
I'm Clinton Otieno and I was arrested by the police in Muthurwa, assaulted and locked up at Railways Police Station. I was arrested for trying to engage the police, who were destroying a friend’s shop. Alexander, who came to my rescue, was also arrested. @NPSOfficial_KE @thekhrc pic.twitter.com/7KFAWfTd8n
— Sema Ukweli (@SemaUkweliKenya) February 19, 2020
