Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has come forward with allegations of violent assault and robbery by police officers in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area earlier this month.
In a social media post on Monday, Mwangi recounted that on the night of April 2, three police officers stormed the Sema Ukweli office at approximately 9:30 p.m., reportedly responding to a noise complaint. One of the officers, whom Mwangi described as intoxicated and chewing miraa, allegedly initiated a violent confrontation.
Alleged Incident at Sema Ukweli Office
“He began roughing us up immediately,” Mwangi wrote. When the activist questioned the officer’s conduct and his possession of a firearm while appearing intoxicated, a physical altercation ensued. According to Mwangi, the officer attempted to cock his gun and aim it at him, but a colleague intervened, preventing potential escalation.
Mwangi further alleged that the officers handcuffed him, beat him, and dragged him out of the office. During the arrest, he sustained injuries to his wrists, knee, and ribs.
“As they forced me into the police vehicle, the officer struck me hard with the butt of his gun,” Mwangi stated. Once detained at Kilimani Police Station, the activist claims the assault continued, with one officer punching him repeatedly while another restrained him.
Injuries and Medical Attention
Mwangi’s colleagues reportedly intervened, prompting the officers to halt the beating. In the early hours of April 3, the Kilimani Officer Commanding Station (OCS) found Mwangi in visible pain and ordered his transfer to Nairobi Hospital. There, scans and examinations revealed internal bruising, swelling, and blurred vision in one eye, though no fractures were identified.
After his discharge, Mwangi was returned to the police station, where he formally reported the incident.
Legal Proceedings and Counter-Charges
Despite assurances that the matter would be investigated, Mwangi was shocked to learn that the officers had filed charges against him for “offensive conduct and assault.” The charges, filed in his absence at Kibera Law Courts on April 7, were made while Mwangi was abroad for work.
An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court, though his lawyer presented travel documents verifying his trip. A new plea date was set for April 22.
“This is the kind of impunity we live with,” Mwangi lamented. “I was assaulted, robbed of my personal belongings—my watch and AirPods—and I’m the one being charged.”
Seeking Justice
Mwangi has since filed a formal complaint with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), expressing fears of a cover-up and seeking justice for the incident.
