NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 15 – Five General Service Unit (GSU) officers caught on camera brutalising a teenager in Trans Nzoia county four years ago were charged in a Nairobi court on Friday.
The five law enforcers were attached to the Kerita GSU camp. The shocking video drew sharp reactions from the police and human rights activists.
Francis Maina Mwangi, Joseph Kipyegon Milimo, Edward Nzioki Kalime, Colins Charo Chengo and Daniel Nderitu Maina denied that on January 19, 2009 at Kerita GSU camp Trans Nzoia county, they jointly ruthlessly beat Joseph Kakubo Kippo, who was then 14-years-old causing him grievous bodily harm.
Chief Magistrate Esther Maina released them on Sh500,000 bond each and a surety of similar amount.
The pictures obtained by NTV showed gruesome acts of brutality by police officers involved in a security operation, taking it out on a man suspected to be a cattle thief.
On April 16, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to investigate the incident and forward the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions within seven days.
He strongly condemned the incident describing it as an embarrassment to the government, the police and the Kenyan public.
“Immediately this information came to my attention, I ordered the commandant of the General Service Unit to commence investigations immediately,” he said.
He said that the officers concerned had just returned to the camp with the victim whom they had arrested following a shootout with armed bandits during which the teenager’s alleged accomplices escaped.
He pointed out that all officers should observe the dictates of human rights as enshrined in the constitution whether on or off duty.
“Once again let me reiterate my commitment to Kenyans that all human rights should be observed by all officers whether on or off duty,”
he said.
Justice served as GSU Officer caught brutalizing Turkana boy charged
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