Kenyan police have detained a 19-year-old driver captured on video attacking a traffic officer in Nairobi.
The footage, widely circulated, shows the assailant striking the policeman with punches and kicks, even after the officer falls to the ground.
The attacker fled when others intervened to assist the officer.
The incident, shocking in its brutality, has generated an unusual wave of sympathy for the police, who often face accusations of brutality and corruption.
According to a police report, the man was initially stopped for making a U-turn on a busy road, causing a traffic obstruction.
The officer, Patrick Ogendo, entered the vehicle and directed the driver to proceed to a nearby police station.
However, en route, “the driver suddenly stopped and produced a sword from under the seat,” the report stated.
“The officer exited the vehicle for his safety, and the driver proceeded to physically assault him with punches and kicks,” it continued, noting that the driver also stole a police pocket phone battery.
The assaulted officer received initial medical care at a nearby health center and was later transferred to a hospital for further treatment.
An alleged accomplice of the suspect was apprehended at the scene, and a search operation was launched for the main attacker.
The assault has sparked widespread condemnation, with many denouncing the violence against a uniformed police officer.
Nairobi County Assembly member Robert Alai questioned, “How do you assault a uniformed police officer in this manner?”
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko also expressed outrage, stating, “This is totally unacceptable. We shouldn’t allow our police officers in uniform to be humiliated to this level.”
The suspect was reportedly apprehended at his residence in the capital later that Sunday evening.
Nairobi’s head of traffic, Vitalis Otieno, indicated that the suspect would face multiple charges, including attempted murder.
Source-BBC
