Police Officer Attacked and Left for Dead by Kenyans in Mombasa

Kenyans pictured during a past riot
Kenyans pictured during a past riot
File

UPDATE July 12, 2020:The Independent Police Oversight Authotiy (IPOA) condemned the mob attack of a police officer for arresting residents without face-masks.

IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori stated that such actions were likely to foster anarchy and lawlessness in society.

"The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has noted with concern the incident in which members of the public attacked and seriously injured a police officer in Kibokoni in Mombasa County," a statement from IPOA read in part.


UPDATE July 11,2020: Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutymbai condemned the attack of a police officer who was enforcing Covid-19 directives in Mombasa. 

He called the incident an uncivilized way of doing things in his statement on Twitter.

"Whereas it is the duty of police officers and indeed myself as IG to protect the public, we also have a duty to defend and protect officers. Attacking officers in this manner is an uncivilised way of doing things," he posted.


A police officer who was left for dead after citizens clobbered him for arresting a man without a mask in Kibokoni, Mvita within Mombasa County on July 10, 2020
A police officer who was left for dead after citizens clobbered him for arresting a man without a mask in Kibokoni, Mvita within Mombasa County on July 10, 2020
Facebook

A police officer was left nursing serious injuries after members of the public ganged up on him. 

The officer was trying to effect an arrest on Friday, July 10 after he spotted a man without a mask in a public place in Kibokoni, Mvita within Mombasa.   

The locals clobbered the officer mercilessly until blood started flowing profusely from his injuries.

He was taken by well-wishers to Coast General Hospital for treatment. 

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on the same day noted that a lot of Mombasa residents had been going about their duties with reckless abandon and not observing Covid-19 safety guidelines. 

“With the relaxation of some of the restrictions, the responsibility shifts to us. I can only plead that we protect ourselves from the virus," he stated.

Cases of civilians attacking police officers have been on the rise especially in the Coast region. 

Boda Boda operators in Malindi, on Tuesday, April 14, took matters into their own hands and stoned police officers over an alleged case of corruption. 

The clip that surfaced online showed a boda boda operator wrestling two police officers who were beating him.

The crowd chanted "Ua, ua, (Kill, kill)” as the riders continued to throw stones as the police officers hastily drove away from the scene.

According to Section 103 (a) of the National Police Service Act No. 11 (A) of 2011, offences related to assault of police can attract a fine not exceeding 1 million shillings, imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or both.

“Any person who assaults resists or wilfully obstructs a police officer in the due execution of the police officer’s duties, assaults, resists or wilfully obstructs any person acting in aid of the police officer, attacks an animal belonging to the service or intentionally or recklessly, destroys police property, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh 1 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to both,” the act reads. 

A police roadblock at Chania, border of Murang’a and Kiambu Counties
A police roadblock at Chania, border of Murang’a and Kiambu Counties in 2019.
Photo
NPS
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