Akinyi Chinedu, the proprietor of Deep West nightclub in Nairobi West, took on the police in a viral rant over a raid on Thursday, June 11 at her nightclub which also offers accommodation.
The National Police Service issued a statement on Sunday, June 14 as the video gained traction, revealing that they stormed the establishment at 11 p.m following complaints from neighbors of noise and disturbance.
They noted that several patrons found drinking at the club were arrested and would be arraigned in court on Monday, June 15.
Chinedu, however, accused the police of damaging her property and needlessly harassing and extorting guests, some of whom were stuck at the club due to the cessation of movement order.
She described them as 'thugs in uniform', arguing that it was not the first time they had stormed her premises, extorted her or damaged her property.
"Lang'ata police are devils and thugs. They jumped the fence, they entered, picked two of my watchmen, two cleaners and my little brother who lives here.
"This is a Presidential curfew. This is not an opportunity for police to steal, to rob from people. They've been doing this, they keep on jumping the fence, picking people up and extorting money.
"I cannot continue like this. This cannot continue, it is unacceptable. This is bad manners," he stated.
She revealed that among those harassed by the police were three members of Ohangla star Tony Nyadundo's band, who were unable to travel to Kisumu after the cessation of movement order saw them stuck in Nairobi where they had been performing.
She appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to rein in police accused of using the Covid-19 directives as a guise to harass, assault and extort Kenyans.
"These are thieves. I'm addressing the President and CS Mutahi Kagwe, did you tell the police to be jumping the fence and picking people up? Is this the curfew? They have put fear in people, even my workers, she asserted.
Police, however, maintained that they were enforcing the order that closed all bars, asserting the need to comply with Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines on Covid-19.
They claimed that Chinedu had ignored several other verbal warnings issued to her by police.
"The officers found patrons drinking at the club, in contravention of the curfew rules as proscribed by The Ministry of Health(MOH) and presidential decree. Several people arrested to be arraigned before court on Monday," their statement read in part.
