Following the recent saga where 19-year-old motorist Ian Njoroge was filmed assaulting a traffic police officer in Mirema on June 2, another video has emerged depicting an almost similar altercation.

The viral video shows a traffic police officer engaged in a physical fight with a civilian, sparking reactions from Kenyans online.

In the video an irate cop is seen arguing with a civilian before raising his club and hitting the man, who is seen trying to get away. The officer can also be heard hurling insults at the man

The cop then turns his anger at a different civilian, slapping him across the face, a move that leads to a fist fight.

Consequently, the officer charges at him and hits him with the club, before he is joined by two of his colleagues who corner the civilian and proceed to reign blows on him.

However, a fact-check by The Kenya Times revealed that the altercation did not occur in the past few days but rather happened in 2022 in Kimbo, Ruiru, Kiambu County contradicting the widespread belief that the incident was current.

Public Reactions to the Video

Re-emerging at a time when the Ian Njoroge incident is still fresh in the memory of most Kenyans, the video has elicited various opinions, with some suggesting that police officers should be equipped with firearms for safety and others criticizing the officer’s actions.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko weighed in on the matter advocating for armed police officers, while others called for peaceful arrests.

Also Read: Police Officer Beaten Up by Ian Njoroge Breaks Silence 

“I think at this rate, it’s important for our traffic police officers to be equipped with firearms to ensure their safety.” said Mike Sonko.

“Actually, they should be re-trained on dealing with the public and how to make peaceful arrests. You can clearly see from the video that the police are the aggressors,” remarked Daguin DD.

“The rift between the police and citizens is so wide. It’s a tension relationship without trust at all” said Mirage Kitchenware.

“Does being a police officer give one the right to verbally abuse and physically assault a citizen in contravention with the set rules and laws, especially when the dispute with said police officer arises from the cop being engaged in illegalities?” posed Mundia Wachira.

Traffic Police Versus Citizens

Citizen altercations with the police has been an increasingly common occurrence raising alarm over the general public attitude towards these public servants.

Traffic police officers were in a directive issued in November 2023 prohibited from carrying firearms while on active duty, 

The directive was issued by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mirriam Muli in a notice addressed to all regional police bosses across the country.

Also Read: Traffic Cops Banned from Carrying Guns in New Directive

Muli cited rising cases of traffic police officers misusing their firearms while on duty as the reason for the ban.

The move came at the request of former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Twalib Mbarak who urged Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to disarm all traffic police officers across the country.

Mbarak’s request followed an incident where EACC detectives dramatically arrested three traffic police officers for soliciting bribes along the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu Road.

During the arrest, one of the rogue cops fired in the air before being subdued.

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