Cop Arrested For Joining Protestors In Stoning Police Station

A police officer was on Thursday, July 20 arrested in Nzaui sub-county, Makueni County after he was accused of joining protestors in stoning a police station during the anti-government demonstrations.

According to a police report seen by Viral Tea, the officer identified as Constable Evans Otieno was apprehended while engaging a group of men along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway at Emali who were blocking the road and throwing stones at passing motorists.

On Wednesday, July 19, PC Otieno was identified by his colleagues among the rioters who attacked the Emali Police station and its officers.

A police car at Emali during demonstrations on July 9, 2018. /MUSYI FM.MA3ROUTE

"Please be informed that NO 117670 PC Evans Otieno of this command whose recommendation letter ref: KPS/ Dig/Est/Hrm/30/vol v/4 dated 19th June 2023 was arrested today, the 20th day of July 2023 along Mombasa - Nairobi highway at Emali talking to a group of young men who were blocking the road and throwing stones to motorists.

"The said officer was also seen by his colleagues yesterday 19/07/2023 being among the rioters who were pelting stones at Emali police station and police officers," read the police report in part.

During the officer's arrest, a quick search revealed that he had in his possession 40 rolls of bhang (cannabis sativa) of street value approximated to be Ksh2,000.

This discovery complicated the situation, as it has since added a drug-related offence to his charges.

As investigations continue, authorities have vowed to conduct a thorough and transparent inquiry to shed light on the full extent of PC Otieno's involvement in the riot and drug possession.

The arrest comes a day after the National Police Service (NPS) commenced investigations into an officer whose live video on TikTok went viral.

"The attention of the National Police Service is drawn to a video clip circulating on social media, depicting an improperly dressed "Police Officer" making misleading and reckless remarks. As a Disciplined Service, we wish to clarify and assure the public that the behaviour portrayed in the clip is not only unacceptable but also doesn't reflect the values of NPS. 

"The remarks are therefore regrettable and stand condemned in the strongest terms possible, even as we embark on an internal review with a view of preferring appropriate disciplinary action. The National Police Service remains focused on training its Officers to the highest standards," stated NPS.

The officer, who was dressed in his uniform, recorded himself live on TikTok making commentary relating to the ongoing Azimio la Umoja protests.

He went on to claim that he was at a police station with the background showing that he was inside a police vehicle.

Other countries such as the United States (US) restrict members of the military and select government officers from sharing their videos or going live on platforms such as TikTok while at their bases, places of work or in uniform.

They argued that the social media algorithms gave their enemies first-hand access to their behaviour and the landscape of their bases and utilise their studies to make it easier for them to launch attacks.

A blurred image of a police officer's clip that went viral on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 on TikTok. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE