Officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were involved in an altercation with Kenya Police officers at the Likoni channel in Mombasa on Saturday.
In a video , a KDF officer is seen slapping a Kenya Ferry Service guard before turning his attention to a Kenya Police officer who attempted to intervene. Accompanied by colleagues carrying firearms, the KDF officer attacked the Kenya Police officer while his police colleagues tried to intervene.
“Ni nini? Mbona mnatufayia hivo? Sote tuko kazi moja mbona mnatufanyai hivi?” the unidentified lady is heard asking.
“What is it? Why are you treating us like this? We are all in the same job, why are you doing this to us?” the unidentified woman is heard asking.
Onlookers are heard expressing confusion about what could have led to the altercation.
Following the incident, reports indicate that two police officers sustained injuries. The KDF officers were reportedly heading back to the Mtongwe Navy base when the altercation occurred.
In response to the viral video, the KDF issued a statement saying that investigations into the incident have commenced.
“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 stated.
This is the second incident in less than a month where KDF officers have been accused of engaging in altercations with police officers. About two weeks ago, police at Lodwar Police Station arrested Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who allegedly assaulted and disarmed their colleague at a roadblock for delaying to remove spikes on the road.
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. 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 reiterated that joint investigations by relevant authorities are ongoing to probe the matter.
