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The National Police Service (NPS) has weighed in on a video circulating on social media of a police officer assaulting a man lying on the ground.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 6, NPS clarified that the disturbing incident occurred in 2018.
NPS noted that the officer in the video was identified and that disciplinary action was taken against him.
“National Police Service (NPS) has taken cognisance of a disturbing video circulating in the media, which shows a police officer assaulting a man lying on the ground.
“The Service wishes to clarify that the incident occurred in 2018, and the officer captured in the clip was identified, with appropriate disciplinary action taken against him,” read part of the statement.
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NPS also emphasized that it’s committed to serving and protecting Kenyans while upholding human rights and freedoms.
“As a Service, we reaffirm our commitment to serve and protect while upholding constitutional standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” NPS added.
The statement comes after Kenyans online demanded that NPS take action on the officer caught in the video.
In the viral video, which was recorded in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, the police officer is captured stepping on the neck and shoulder of the man while he is lying down.
The man who was identified as Brian Ogutu recorded a statement in 2018 after the incident and revealed that the drama began when he was walking back to work after having lunch.
Ogutu narrated that he saw a street boy trying to steal metal rods from a godown and tried to scare him away. However, his friend who accompanied him to lunch hurled a stone at the boy to scare him off, but missed the target and it landed on a matatu.
The policeman who was inside the matatu came out and reigned down blows and kicks on Ogutu.
