A teacher seen hitting a police officer during a tutors’ protest in Kericho in a video clip that has since gone viral has finally spoken.
The daring high school instructor says he gave the cop a taste of his own medicine, in a bid to discourage police brutality, especially during peaceful protests like what they had in Litein.
The angry teacher was among a group led by Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (Kuppet) national deputy chairman, Julius Korir and Kericho branch executive Julius Mibei.
They were demonstrating over the unresolved murder of former Cheborgei high school teacher Willy Sang and his wife Eveline.
Just when the protest procession was sneaking into Litein town, anti-riot police officers under the command of Bureti OCPD Mohammed Ali cornered them. They shot in the air and lobbed teargas at the teachers.
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Amid the chaos, the teacher captured in the viral video, came up behind one of the anti-riot police officers and hit him hard on the head before melting in the crowd.
Speaking to The Standard, the teacher who requested anonymity for fear of police reprisal, said his mind snapped after the police began breaking up the teachers’ demonstration which had been largely peaceful.
“I felt so bad when I saw the police officers clobbering senior kericho branch Kuppet officials and innocent Chesingoro villagers yet they were matching peacefully to highlight the unresolved case of murder of Mr and Mrs Sang,” he said.
The teacher added: “The police should learn not to suppress the voice of people who are simply demanding for justice. If anything, the last person they should clobber is a teacher. These are our students, how they turn against us and start beating us is disrespect of the highest order.”
Kuppet Kericho Branch Executive Julius Mibei said at least five teachers were beaten and suffered various body injuries during the fracas with the police.
“One of the teachers who bore the brunt of police brutality suffered a dislocated shoulder joint and underwent an operation at Litein Mission Hospital where he had been rushed for treatment,” said Mibei.
Kuppet National Deputy Chairman Julius Korir gave Kericho County police commander James Mugera, the county Director of Criminal Investigations Magwe Chacha and Bureti sub county commissioner Carol Nziwi, a 24 hours ultimatum to arrest the suspects in Mr and Mrs Sang’s murders.
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