The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have issued a statement regarding the fight between their officers and police officers in Likoni Channel, Mombasa.
The clash occurred on Saturday April 27 when the KDF officers allegedly assaulted the police officers.
In a video circulating on social media and seen by The Kenya Times, a KDF soldier in full gear and armed with a rifle was seen assaulting a security guard at the Likoni Ferry.
When tried to ask the officers to open the way, the soldier hit the security guard prompting police officers who were also at the scene to intervene.
However, the soldiers turned their onslaught on the police officers leading to an altercation between the men and women in uniform.
Two police officers and the guard were later reported to have sustained injuries following the incident.
A woman’s voice in the video is heard pleading with the officers to stop their action asking them: “What is wrong? Why are you hitting him? Why are you doing this to us… this is too much. It is not right, leave him alone.”
Angry residents are said to have thrown stones at the soldiers who brandished their weapons and left the scene.
Kenya Defence Forces Responds to Altercation
In a statement on April 27, Kenya Defence Forces said the incidence portrays unprofessionalism and investigations to determine the cause of the scuffle are underway.
“This evening at the Likoni Ferry, KDF soldiers were involved in a scuffle that has been circulated through various social media mediums. To establish the circumstances leading to the incident, Military Police and requisite investigation agencies are currently handling the matter,” KDF said in a statement.
Also Read: KDF Officer Arrested for Beating Man to Death in a Bush
“The incident is highly regrettable. As KDF personnel, we are beholden to the core value of professionalism.”
However, this trend that has raised an alarm over the conduct of Kenya Defense Forces lately with Kenyans witnessing an alarming rate of scuffles between the soldiers and Police officers.
KDF Clashes with National Police in Lodwar
On April 18, four KDF soldiers were arrested following a nasty altercation with their counterparts from the National Police Service (NPS) in Lodwar town.
There were reports that there was an altercation after the soldiers claimed that the police officers delayed in removing the spikes from the road.
The driver of the KDF’s water bowser is reported to have alighted and slapped the officer.
Another officer then grabbed the police officer’s AK47 rifle and cocked it before ordering Constable Makhapila to go down on his knees, but the officer refused.
Also Read: Inside Ogolla’s Pilot Family Tree with Members All Over KDF
The Defence Force however rubbished claims that soldiers from the force assaulted and stormed a police station in Lodwar.
“Notably, it has so far been established that; KDF soldiers neither, “assaulted” police officers nor, “stormed” the station as alleged,” the Defense Force said.
“The orchestration of the detainment is demeaning in context, intended to embarrass, humiliate, and create alarm. The incident, though localized and occurring at a tactical level, is of great concern to the entire KDF fraternity. It also degrades the complementary spirit in multi-Agency environments and operations.”
Do you want to be part of an updated community without the interruptions of unwanted messages? Click the link below and join our WhatsApp Channel!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
