NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan police have arrested a 19-year-old motorist who was caught on video brutally assaulting a traffic policeman on a road in the capital, Nairobi. The video, which has been widely shared, shows the young man attacking the officer with punches and kicks to the head even after the policeman falls to the ground.
The motorist fled the scene after bystanders intervened to help the officer. The shocking incident has led to a rare outpouring of sympathy for the police, who often face accusations of brutality and bribery.
A police report detailed that the incident began when the motorist was stopped for making a U-turn on a busy road, obstructing other vehicles. The traffic officer, Patrick Ogendo, entered the vehicle and instructed the driver to head to a nearby police station. However, on the way, “the driver suddenly stopped and drew a sword from under the seat.”
“The officer jumped out of the vehicle for his safety, and the driver followed him with blows and kicks,” the report added. The attacker also took a police pocket phone battery before fleeing the scene.
Officer Ogendo received first aid at a nearby health center and was later transferred to a hospital for further treatment. An alleged accomplice of the suspect was arrested at the scene, and a police team was mobilized to search for the assailant.
The attack has been widely condemned, with many expressing outrage at the violence. “How do you assault a uniformed police officer in this manner?” asked Robert Alai, a member of Nairobi’s county assembly. “This is totally unacceptable. We shouldn’t allow our police officers in uniform to be humiliated to this level,” said Mike Sonko, a former Nairobi governor.
The suspect was reportedly arrested at his residence in Nairobi later on Sunday evening. Nairobi’s head of traffic, Vitalis Otieno, told local media that the motorist would be charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder.
