KDF Soldiers Assault Police Officers at Likoni Channel
On Saturday, members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) launched an attack against Kenya Police officers at the Likoni channel in Mombasa.
A video obtained by The Star shows a Kenya Defence Forces officer striking a Kenya Ferry Service guard.
He approaches a Kenya Police officer who attempted to step in, surrounded by armed colleagues.
He is observed assaulting the Kenya Police officer while his colleagues from the Kenya Police attempt to step in.
A woman who filmed the confrontation can be heard questioning why the KDF officers were assaulting a police officer since they both work in the same field.
“Ni nini? Mbona mnatufayia hivo? Sote tuko kazi moja mbona mnatufanyia hivi?” the unidentified lady is heard asking.
This translates to, “What is it? Why do you do that to us? We are all in the same job, why are you doing this to us?”
Upon observing, people can be heard questioning what might have caused the confrontation.
Reports indicate that two police officers were injured as a result of the incident.
The incident happened while the KDF officers were returning to the Mtongwe Navy base.
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The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) announced that they had begun investigating the incident after the video went viral.
“To establish the circumstances leading to the incident, Military Police and requisite investigation agencies are currently handling the matter.
“The incident is highly regrettable. As KDF personnel, we are beholden to the core value of professionalism,” KDF said.
In under a month, this is the second case where KDF officers have been accused of getting into a conflict with police officers.
Approximately two weeks ago, police at Lodwar Police Station detained Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who allegedly assaulted and took the weapon of their comrade at a roadblock because he was slow to remove road spikes.
According to a police report, the KDF officers were traveling in a water tanker when the incident occurred around 11 am.
The police reported that the officer who was disarmed was stationed at a roadblock in the Mt Kenya area with three other officers from the Turkana County Enforcement Department.
The KDF however, rubbished the claims.
“Notably, it has so far been established that; KDF soldiers neither, “assaulted” police officers nor, “stormed” the station as alleged,” KDF said in a statement.
“The orchestration of the detainment is demeaning in context, intended to embarrass, humiliate, and create alarm. The incident, though localized and occurring at a tactical level, is of great concern to the entire KDF fraternity. It also degrades the complementary spirit in Multi-Agency environments and operations,” KDF said.
KDF further said that joint investigations by the relevant authorities are probing the matter.
KDF Soldiers Assault Police Officers at Likoni Channel