Three officers in JKUAT brutality identified as DPP promises action

Three of the four police officers who attacked a Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) student have been exposed.

Yesterday, a parade was conducted at Juja Police Station where the officers were picked out and named by their employer, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

Commission chairman Eliud Kinuthia named them as corporal George Wathania of service number 53955, constables Jonathan Kibet Cheptai of service number 78232 and Boniface Muthama of service number 107301.

They were all based at the Juja Police Station.

Mr Kinuthia said he could not name the fourth officer because he had not been identified at the parade. The officer is one of those caught on camera brutally attacking the student.

Kinuthia said he would be named after investigations are complete.

“The officers involved in the incident have had their police privileges temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigation,” said Kinuthia.

He said the Inspector General’s office and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) were conducting the probe whose findings will determine how the officers will be treated.

Injured police

“What could be done after investigations are complete is that the officers could have their ranks lowered or dismissed entirely from the service,” said Kinuthia.

He revealed that five police officers were injured in the Monday incident.

Officials from the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) spent the better part of yesterday at the Juja Police Station interrogating all the officers who were handling the chaos.

Head of IAU Charlton Muriithi also visited the university.

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji said he is waiting for files on the investigation from the police and Ipoa in order to take action.

“We are waiting for the conclusion of the probe so that we can look at the files. We will act accordingly,” Mr Haji said.

Ipoa said yesterday it had identified all the 50 officers involved in the operation.

The authority said 22 students suffered injuries during the midday melee. It added that it has made contact with witnesses and taken their statements.

“Based on these preliminary findings, the authority now advances the matter into a full independent investigation,” said Ipoa chairperson Ann Makori.

She that added the investigation’s findings would be applied against the legal provisions - Section 61(1& 2), 88 (3 & 4).

Makori also stressed that the findings will put into consideration the Sixth Schedule of the National Police Service Act, 2011, which provides for the use of force and firearms.

The student who was attacked studies Food Science and is in fourth year.