This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
On August 3, 2020, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i publicly condemned the police officers involved in the assault of Mlango Kubwa MCA Patricia Mutheu at the City Hall.
Following the incident, the CS directed that everyone at the Nairobi County Assembly be disarmed forthwith and their gun licences withdrawn. This led to the recovery of 14 guns from the chambers last week.
Ms Mutheu, accompanied by her lawyer Cliff Ombeta and Nairobi County Assembly Deputy Majority Whip Waithera Chege, recorded her statement at the DCI offices on Monday. She narrated how she was allegedly assaulted by an officer identified as John Mwaniki Thathi while she was seated alone at the county assembly's lounge.
"We have brought Hon Mutheu here on an issue that occurred last week where she was assaulted by four police officers who mercilessly flogged her, beat her up and embarrassed her," Mr Ombeta said.
Ms Mutheu explained how her encounter with the officer turned violent after he asked her why she did not run away when she saw him. She said she did not run away because she had done nothing wrong and that City Hall was her workplace.
"My client was not only caused grievous bodily harm but was also mentally tortured. We are filing a case on indecent assault and physical assault. My client was shocked that the police who should have protected her ended up beating her up," Mr Ombeta said.
Ms Mutheu was admitted to the Nairobi Women's Hospital for a day following the incident. She presented her medical documents at the police station as she recorded her statement and filled a P3 form.
"In assault cases, the P3 form is a crucial document because an expert must say and ascertain that she was assaulted. That is the basis of this case," the DCI officer investigating the case said.
