Chaotic scenes were on Thursday, March 2, witnessed at Nairobi's Central Business District when a contingent of police officers arrested a county askari, popularly known as Kanjo.
In a proverbial case of the hunter becoming the hunted, the Nairobi County askari was unceremoniously bundled into a waiting police van.
In a video that was widely viewed on online, a crowd that had gathered to witness the brutal arrest cheered on as police officers lifted the Kanjo from the ground.
"Arrest him immediately, and he should not deny anything because we have evidence against him," a voice shouted from the crowd.
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The Nairobi County askari briefly resisted the arrest as he opted to explain himself to the police officers and the crowd that was swelling around him.
However, his pleas fell on deaf ears as the crowd demanded that he be arrested immediately, even as some of them swung into action to push the suspect into the police van.
Often seen working hand in hand to arrest suspects along Nairobi City streets, it's still unclear why police officers turned against the Kanjo.
When contacted for a response, the Nairobi City County Communication office stated that they were reviewing the video and would get back in due time.
"I’m making the inquiry and I will get back to you," the Nairobi City County Communication officer responded to the questions about the video.
Sources close to Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that the disagreement between the police officers and County Askari was due to a privately owned lorry that attempted to pack at a wrong lot.
The source also claimed that the matter was later resolved after senior officers from the National Police Services and the Nairobi County Government intervened.
Under Cap 75 of the Criminal Procedure Code, police officers are allowed to arrest anyone suspected of taking part in any offence as spelled out in the constitution.
"Notwithstanding anything in this Code or any other written law, in relation to a person who is a member of the armed forces or police forces of another country lawfully present in Kenya as a consequence of an agreement between the government of that other country and the Government of Kenya.
"In which agreement provision is made in respect of offences under the Penal Code or any other written law for the detention or punishment of that person or the inquiry into, trial or another disposal of those offences, nothing done or omitted in accordance with such a provision shall be or shall be deemed to be unlawful or contrary to the provisions of this Code, or any other written law," Cap 75 of the Criminal Procedure Code defines.
Kenyan Constitution 2010 requires police officers to present suspects before a competent court within 24 hours after arrest.
