This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
On December 8, 2019, a shocking incident occurred at Giakanja Boys Secondary School in Nyeri, where rival groups allied to the Tangatanga and Kieleweke factions clashed ahead of a fundraiser attended by Deputy President William Ruto.
During the chaos, Nyeri Deputy Speaker Samuel Kariuki, who is also the MCA for Ruring'u Ward, was captured on camera assaulting an unidentified man with a wooden rod.
The footage shows Kariuki whipping the helpless man as other men cheer him on, shouting 'Ua! Ua! Ua!' as he runs after the man and continues to strike him.
According to Nyeri MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, Kariuki was initially arrested in the Sunday melee but was later released under unclear circumstances.
Wambugu claimed that Kariuki fled the country on Sunday night to avoid the pending arrest, stating, 'Apparently the Speaker of the Nyeri County Assembly organized a trip for the Deputy Speaker to leave the country last night so that he doesn’t get arrested. I hope the EACC & the DCI to investigate how this decision to travel was reached and whose funds were used.'
Police in Nyeri issued a warrant of arrest against Kariuki on Monday, and Central Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga confirmed that at least 10 people were arrested during the chaos.
