The man whose video stirred anger across social media after a policeman was filmed brutally assaulting him has finally given details on what transpired.
According to The Standard, the man identified as one Brian Ogutu, who has since recorded a statement with the police on the incident that shocked many Kenyans, came out narrating his ordeal in the hands of the officer.
Ogutu revealed that he was heading back to work in the company of a colleague at Print Park, Industrial Area after taking his lunch break.
08:22 #KENYANTRAFFIC— KenyanTraffic (@KenyanTraffic) April 6, 2018
Police officer trying to kill a suspect in industrial area.@IPOA_KE this is very normal.@suemc_phee @NPSOfficial_KE#PoliceAreCriminals pic.twitter.com/sTDH6AsTW3 via @digitalmkenya
The two came across a street boy attempting to steal metal bars from a godown that was close to his workplace and they decided to intercept him.
In an effort to scare the thief away, Ogutu's colleague hurled a stone to scare him off that missed and landed on a bus that was passing-by causing damage.
As fate would have it, the matatu had a police officer on board who alighted shortly after and went for Ogutu.
“The officer got hold of me and started kicking and hitting me. I tried to explain to him I was not behind the incident but he heard none of it as he pinned me to the ground even pressing my throat,” Ogutu narrated of the ensuing melee.
Luckily, a witness recorded the incident that lasted for over a minute on video that was shared widely across social media prompting authorities in the police service and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take action on the matter.
After the brutal ordeal, the policeman went ahead and booked the victim at Makongeni police station where he was later released to seek medical attention.
Reports indicate efforts by the police to convince the victim's family to settle the matter outside the court were declined with Industrial Area DCI boss set to take over the case.
