Singer Ringtone Apoko was on Thursday, July 29 2021, left in disappointment after his assault case against blogger Robert Alai failed to take over despite making a dramatic entrance in an ambulance.
The singer was bandaged when he arrived to witness Alai taking a plea at the Kibera Law Courts. The blogger was arrested and charged with assault and malicious damage on July 23.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), however, recalled the file for further perusal. Ringtone expressed his disappointment at the decision.
He appealed to the Inspector General of Police and DPP to ensure Alai is held responsible for the assault and questioned whether the blogger was being handled with kids gloves due to his close working relationship with people in government.
Alai was arrested and taken to the Kilimani police station after allegedly assaulting the singer in Kilimani on Friday, July 23.
Ringtone told Kenyans.co.ke that the blogger accosted him at a roundabout and overtook him but when he saw the singer, he drove right into him and crashed his vehicle.
According to the gospel hitmaker, Alai got out of his vehicle with a wooden club which he used to allegedly hit him in the face. Videos shared online showed the blogger holding the weapon while he attempted to leave the crime scene.
However, boda boda riders blocked his way until cops got to the scene. Ringtone recorded a statement at the Kilimani Police station and proceeded to the hospital to get his injuries treated. Our calls to Alai at the time went unanswered.
When the videos surfaced online, netizens speculated that it could be a stunt for an upcoming project from Ringtone but officers from Kilimani police station confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke that the assault case was filed procedurally.
Officers divulged that sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were probing the matter to determine whether Alai will be charged with assault and malicious damage.
Alai is no stranger to controversy and arrests. In 2019, Alai was arrested and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, after he posted gory photos of eight AP officers who died after their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) in Khorof Harar, Wajir County.
Then police spokesman Charles Owino in a warning highlighted that some individuals lacked respect for the departed as well as displayed insensitivity to their families, the National Police Service (NPS) fraternity, and the entire nation of Kenya.
But Alai tweeted that he would not be silenced citing that he was fighting for the plight of police officers.
“I will continue to speak out for the poor police officers who are neglected and their allowances taken by “wakubwa.” We must give our men and women who die wearing uniform, respect, dignity and honour they deserve. We shouldn’t treat our cops like dogs. I am angry!!” he wrote.
