This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
Soldiers Brutalize Mombasa Residents During Mashujaa Day Celebrations ¶
On October 20, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta led Kenyans in celebrating Mashujaa Day at Mama Ngina Waterfront Park in Mombasa county. However, the celebrations turned violent as security officers brutalized residents.
According to eyewitnesses, locals who were heading to the venue were accosted by rogue soldiers and police officers who harassed them and even forced them to swim in sewage for no reason.
One Mwangole Chikore, a 23-year-old businessman, alleged he was accosted and forced to swim inside a sewer for more than ten minutes oblivious of the cold and discomfort that comes with sewer line.
Chikore, who was on his way to the venue, said the law enforcers stopped him and demanded to know why he looked suspicious. They then wrestled him to the ground and later forced him to swim inside a filthy sewage.
Another victim, Moses Juma, was on his way from Likoni to Mama Ngina Park to attend the event when he found the officers had taken over all the routes and were not allowing anybody to pass through. He was forced to undress as his girlfriend watched in disbelief.
Juma said the officers rained slaps on him while hitting him with the gun. They later forced him and his girlfriend to sit on a sewer.
Salim Matano was also forced to do ten press ups in the sewer while singing the national anthem. After doing five of them, he fell down. The officers pounced on him with beatings as others searched through his pockets and made away with KSh 350.
Maxwell Shiheho said armed soldiers forced him to remove all clothes and swim in a sewer as they watched and mocked him.
Security agents are yet to comment on the matter.
