A Turkish national allegedly assaulted a security guard at Nairobi's Gateway Park on March 3, sparking concerns about racial tensions and law enforcement response. The incident involved Bulent Gulbahar, who reportedly refused a routine vehicle inspection and physically attacked Walter Ouma, a security officer, before his Kenyan driver forced entry into the premises.
Gulbahar, a Turkish citizen, exited the vehicle and confronted Ouma, delivering blows and obscenities while witnesses reported fear of potential armed conflict. His driver, Valentine Ataka—a lawyer affiliated with Ataka Kimori & Okoth Advocates—rammed the gate, bypassing security protocols. The altercation left Ouma with facial injuries requiring medical attention.
Security footage captured the confrontation, raising questions about the foreigner's motives. A building manager stated Gulbahar's actions occurred amid heightened security concerns following the Dusit2D hotel attacks. Police detained Gulbahar temporarily but later released him pending investigation.
The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2012 case involving then-deputy chief justice Nancy Baraza, who faced public backlash after a similar altercation with a security guard. Legal experts warn the case could trigger scrutiny from immigration authorities and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission due to its racial implications.
A social media post from March 5, 2019, condemned the attack: 'A Turkish man Bulent Gulbahar gets to Gateway Park Mbsa Road, refuses to be checked, forces himself in and beats up a watchman, egged on by his Kenyan lawyer Valentine Ataka! This impunity is unacceptable.'
