Boniface Mwangi reported being brutally harassed by police outside City Hall after attempting to file a complaint related to boda-boda riders and city council officials.
According to Mwangi, the confrontation occurred on a Wednesday evening when he visited City Hall to inquire about his friend's impounded bike. Mwangi stated, "I’m fine. Battered, bruised but my spirit is unbroken."
Mwangi explained that his friend, a courier delivery person, was arrested on July 1st at 8am, and his bike was taken to City Hall without an arrest being made. When Mwangi followed up with the officers, they chased him away. He then rode to City Hall at 3pm to investigate further.
Mwangi recounted, "l knocked a lot of doors, following up on my friend’s impounded bike and no one was offering an explanation. At around 4:30pm, l left the City Hall Annex offices and headed to the main City hall building. I was stopped by an Administration police officer who refused me entry. Asking why, he arrogantly replied "because I said so". An argument ensued and l decided to record the conversation, that’s when all hell broke loose. He tried to snatch my phone, l stepped back and he started assaulting me."
Mwangi alleged that a cartel within City Hall has been exploiting boda-boda riders by impounding their motorbikes without stating an offense, charging a daily fee of 1,000 shillings, and releasing the bikes after at least two weeks for a minimum of 14,000 shillings. Mwangi emphasized that if anyone commits an offense, they should be arrested and charged accordingly.
Mwangi stated that the police assaulted him because they initially thought he was a boda-boda rider. After learning his identity, the physical violence turned to verbal abuse. He was released on a police bond of 50,000 Kenyan shillings and is scheduled to appear in court on July 14th, facing charges of creating a disturbance and resisting arrest.
Mwangi expressed gratitude to those who helped secure his release, including the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, lawyers Wanyoike Waikwa, Lempaa Soyinka, and Wahome Thuku, as well as the Chairman of Motorcycle Kenya, Pastor Nick Korir, and the bikers who escorted him to the hospital.
