The National Police Service (NPS) has clarified a viral video where two men on a motorbike were captured robbing a man in broad daylight outside a police station in Kilifi County.
NPS Spokesperson Dr Resila Atieno while speaking to The Kenya Times on May 8, 2024, clarified the incident which was captured in a viral video that has since gained widespread attention on social media.
The Police Service has dismissed the claims that the man in the video was robbed, instead noting that the video was stage-managed for TikTok content.
A Police OB Report shared by Dr. Resila confirmed that officers in Kilifi have since arrested four men for staging the robbery outside the station.
“In reference to the earlier reported incident vide on 07/05/2024 four suspects have been arrested in regard to the viral video titled” wizi mbele ya police station,” read part of the OB Report.
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“One motorcycle reg. no. KMDU 918G make Skygo detained. In addition, the investigating team have been able to retrieve a CCTV footage showing clearly the suspects shooting the video,” the report adds.
NPS Dismiss Robbery Incident
According to the report, the prank was orchestrated by the four men who had been denied access to shoot inside the police station.
The Station’s Canteen manager while recording a statement reported that a man went to the station seeking access for shooting a video.
According to the statement, a stranger entered the said canteen and approached a steward who was cleaning requesting permission to shoot a video inside the premises.
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However, the man was denied access which prompted him and his colleagues to go ahead and stage -manage a prank outside.
“One guy pretended to be drunk and got mugged/robbed by two other guys who were on a motorcycle while another was recording.
The video was later shared on social media mainly TikTok bearing titles “wezi mbele ya police station” and another “man gets robbed off near a police station in Kilifi,” the statement reads in part.
According to the NPS, the video has tainted the image of officers in Kilifi and those at the said Administration Police (AP) canteen.
Kilifi Robbery Prank
In the viral video seen by The Kenya Times, one of the men who was dressed in black was riding the motorbike, while the other who executed the robbery was wearing shorts and a red-and-white t-shirt.
The video captures the moment the two men pounced on the man walking a few meters from the station’s wall, with the assailant on the back of the motorbike seizing his collar and attempting to snatch his phone while still on the move.
He eventually pushes him to the ground with a forceful shove upon stopping.
Despite onlookers’ attempts to stop them, the men flee as the victim is left lying on the ground for minutes.
Kenyans on social media reacted to the video expressing dismay at the lack of prompt police response to such a brazen burglary unfolding right in front of the station.
The uproar led to the response by the NPS who in turn confirmed that the incident was stage-managed for TikTok Content.
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