Embu Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer (DCIO) Jervasio Njeru, was on Wednesday, June 3, arraigned in court for allegedly raping a female suspect who was in his custody.
The event that took place at his office on May 31, left the suspect with serious wounds as there was a significant confrontation between the two.
Mr. Njeru who has been on the run since the event occurred, was finally apprehended by his fellow officers on Tuesday night, June 2.
The woman (whose identity was withheld for privacy purposes) had reported that she was sexually assaulted by DCIO Njeru who overpowered her after she was brought in as a suspect in a fraud case.
She reportedly managed to escape and ran to Manyatta Police Station where she made her statement.
A forensic examination was carried out immediately as per protocol and the results showed that she had indeed been raped.
The reports further stated that she was then treated at the Embu Level 5 hospital and discharged.
Officer Njeru’s arraignment came just a day after Police Spokesman Charles Owino went live on NTV to respond to questions regarding the recent surge of cases involving police brutality in Kenya.
Speaking to NTV’s Ken Mijungu, Owino cut a defensive figure as he went on to downplay the alarming rise in cases that involved officers of the law assaulting citizens they are sworn to protect.
"Victimized by who? I don't like this word police brutality because I'm a policeman and I cannot victimize. Ask him to come and see me tomorrow, I'll give him officers to take him to my colleague who is the Director of the Internal Affairs Unit.
"There is no cause for alarm, there is no need to fear," he stated when asked to respond to the case of Samuel Maina.
Maina’s nose was allegedly broken by police for violating curfew on Friday, May 29, in Kahawa West Estate, Nairobi.
In his statement, Maina claimed that the police started chasing local residents as early as 6:45 p.m. as
“They beat me up and as I was crying for help, I could hear people shouting at them and asking them to let me proceed to my house,” he said, adding that he was chased away from the Kahawa Police Station when he went to report the incident the following day.
On June 2, Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji revealed that there have been at least 80 reported cases of police brutality since October 2019.
“Since October 2019, ODPP has received 80 cases against the police and is working closely with IPOA for judicious expedition.
"The Office of the Director Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is seeking funding to support the protection of witnesses and victims for cases on human rights violations," Haji stated.
