A video showing a Dutch national abusing a police officer at Diani Police Station in Kwale County has gone viral on social media, sparked widespread outrage.
The man, identified as Elwin Ter Horst, was arrested on Tuesday, October 28, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend at a local hotel.
However, it was his conduct inside the police station that drew national attention after footage surfaced online showing him hurling insults at officers and behaving in a degrading manner.
In the video, Ter Horst can be seen insulting police officers, blowing his nose toward one of them, and wiping mucus from his hand onto the officer’s trousers.
The officer, who remained composed, appeared to respond minimally despite the provocation.
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Many Kenyans on social media condemned the incident, demanding firm action from authorities.
Activist and 2027 presidential aspirant Boniface Mwangi was among the most vocal critics, calling for accountability and equality before the law.
"Kenyan police have a reputation for being problematic, corrupt, and violent, but this level of disrespect toward a police officer is unacceptable. The foreigner captured in this video deserves to be prosecuted, jailed, and then deported," he said.
Mwangi went on to highlight what he described as a dangerous double standard in police behavior.
"I can guarantee that if it had been a Kenyan who dared to do this to an officer, he would have been beaten to death. Kenyan police fear whiteness and anyone who looks rich," he added.
Mwangi also linked the incident to his broader reform agenda, pointing out the need for police welfare and institutional reform.
"As President, I shall send all current police officers for retraining and retire those who cannot be retrained. In my government, we shall pay police better, upgrade police stations to ensure better working conditions, and have officers live in the community. The police will be allowed to have a union to fight for their rights," he further said.
Human rights advocate and VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein Khalid also weighed in, expressing disbelief at the officers’ passive reaction during the incident.
"What the hell? The National Police Service (NPS) are so ready to shoot and kill innocent Kenyans protesting for a better Kenya yet they accept to be ill treated like this by a white guy right inside a police station? Shame!" he noted.
Check our more reactions from Kenyans below;
