Court Jails 24-Year-Old Man Who Assaulted Police Officer

Kakamega Principal Magistrate J.J Masiga has sentenced 24-year-old Tyson Kayesi to seven years in prison for assaulting a police officer.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 4, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Kayesi assaulted the officer who was on duty in May 2024 causing him harm.

“Hon. J. J. Masiga has today sentenced a 24-year-old man to 7 years imprisonment for willfully assaulting a police officer in Kakamega contrary to section 103(a) of the National Police Act,” read the statement in part.

While delivering the judgment, Masiga noted that the offense of assaulting police officers is becoming rampant nationwide adding that a custodial sentence is the most suitable for purposes of deterrence for any person intending to commit that offense.

According to the ODPP, the accused refused to take a plea on two occasions but eventually took a plea on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to four counts.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel Moraa Atandi submitted that the court upholds the minimum sentence as prescribed by the law.

This comes as Ian Njoroge who was caught on camera assaulting a traffic police officer on Sunday, June 2 in Mirema is set to be charged with robbery with violence contrary to section 269(2) of the penal code.

Njoroge will also be charged with grievous harm contrary to section 234 of the penal code and resisting arrest contrary to section 253(b) of the penal code.

The suspect was arrested on Sunday, June 2 night by plain-clothed police officers after a video of him attacking the officer went viral on social media attracting mixed reactions.