This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's Response On Viral Police Brutality Video ¶
On November 11, 2019, a video went viral on social media showing a JKUAT student, Allan Omondi, being brutally beaten by police officers in Juja. The incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for action from the authorities.
Dr. Fred Matiang'i, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, took to his official Twitter account to address the incident. He stated that he had observed the events at JKUAT with 'profound concern' and acknowledged that the use of force by police is clearly outlined in the National Police Standing Orders.
Dr. Matiang'i also announced that he had spoken to the Inspector General of Police and that they both agreed that firm and decisive action would be taken against any officer who used excessive force within the next 24 hours.
The Police Service later posted a statement on Twitter, reiterating that firm and decisive action would be taken against any officer who used excessive force at JKUAT within the next 24 hours.
Kenyan netizens took to Twitter to express their outrage and disappointment at the incident. Many called for the release of the student who was still being held at Juja Police Station and for the OCS of the station to be summoned for questioning.
Some Twitter users also pointed out that this was not an isolated incident and that similar cases of police brutality had occurred in the past, including at the University of Nairobi and Maseno University.
