Police Officer Forgives 19-Year-Old Who Beat Him Up
The charges were withdrawn after the complainant, police officer Jacob Ogendo, informed the court that he had forgiven Njoroge for assaulting him.
Marvin Chege 
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has dropped a criminal case against Ian Njoroge, a student at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) who was captured assaulting and injuring a traffic police officer during a traffic stop in Mirema, Nairobi County on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
The charges were withdrawn after the complainant, police officer Jacob Ogendo, informed the court that he had forgiven Njoroge for assaulting him.
Presiding magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi discharged Njoroge, who had been facing charges of robbery with violence and assaulting a police officer. The case was dismissed under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), resulting in his release.
How It Happened
A police report filed at the Kasarani Police Station at the time of the incident revealed that the officer was on duty manning traffic when he spotted a motor vehicle making a U-turn on the road and obstructing other road users.
Ian Njoroge posing for a picture. /NTV
"When he approached the said motor vehicle the driver hit the road kerb and got stuck. In the process, the officer managed to enter the vehicle on the front passenger's seat and instructed the driver to drive to the police station," the report read in part.
On approaching the opposite side of a supermarket, the driver suddenly stopped and drew a sword under the seat, a matter which made the officer panic and jump out of the vehicle for his safety.
However, Njoroge followed him with blows and kicks and during the fracas, the officer fell on the trench. The motorist, dressed in a red basketball jersey over jeans and trainers, robbed the officer of his police pocket phone battery, which is yet to be recovered.
In the clip, the motorist was seen knocking down the police officer with an overhand before soccer-kicking him in the face. As he attempted to attack the officer again, several people dashed to his aid as the motorist was captured fleeing the scene.
The officer was rescued by members of the public and later sought first aid at a medical centre in Kasarani. He was then referred to Mama Lucy Hospital for further treatment.
Viral Tea had reported that the suspect was traced to his girlfriend's house in the Jacaranda area of Kayole, Nairobi as part of an operation led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based in the Nairobi area. The woman had tipped off police officers regarding his location.
A clip that showed the driver undergoing a grilling from the police officers hinted that he underwent torture and was subjected to insults. In the footage, the teenager revealed that he had never attacked a police officer and that the latest incident was his first encounter, further claiming that the officer was requesting excessive money.
However, the police officer strongly denied requesting a bribe after Njoroge claimed that Ogendo had demanded Ksh10,000 before the incident escalated.
On Tuesday, June 4, Njoroge was arraigned before Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi, facing multiple charges, including robbery with violence, causing grievous harm, and resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution, represented by the DPP, requested his detention for further investigations. Despite objections from his legal team, the court granted the prosecution one day to hold him at Industrial Area Prison, where he would undergo a medical evaluation at Kenyatta Hospital.
According to the charge sheet, Njoroge was accused of robbing Corporal Ogendo of a police communication device and a mobile phone worth Ksh50,000 before inflicting grievous harm on him.
The video ignited widespread debate online, surfacing at a time when police brutality was a major concern among Kenyans. Many pointed out the irony of the incident, with opinions split on whether Njoroge’s actions were justified.
Meanwhile, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko disclosed that Ogendo was open to forgiving Njoroge. As part of the agreement, the family was expected to issue a public apology to both Ogendo and the police force—an uncommon gesture in cases of this nature.
