Woman brutalised by police for flouting curfew rules seeks justice

Purity Kavata shows the injuries she sutained after she was brutalised by police in Mombasa. [Joackim Bwana, Standard]

A woman is seeking justice after five police officers brutalised her while she was heading home a few minutes after 7pm.

But police claim she was found selling alcohol to customers past the curfew hours.

Purity Kavata, who runs a bar in Migadini, Mombasa, sustained serious injuries and was taken by police to Portreiz Hospital for first aid before being taken into custody. The mother of three is yet to be released after she failed to raise Sh20,000 bail.

Ms Kavata’s neighbour Elizabeth Muveta said she was assaulted by five police officers. 

Ms Muveta explained that the police demanded the keys to the bar, but Kavata said she had left them at home, prompting them to beat her.

“Kavata was heading home at 7pm when five police officers beat her up, injuring her and took her to Portreiz Hospital for first aid after she passed out and then proceeded to arrest and detain her at Chaani Police Station,” said Muveta.

She was later transferred to Changamwe Police Station.

Changamwe Sub-county Police Commander Ali Ndiema said the woman was arrested for flouting curfew rules.

Mr Ndiema explained that Kavata resisted arrest and declined to open the bar when police came calling.

“She is notorious and has been playing hide and seek with police. She has been selling alcohol to people despite the curfew and closure of bars. She resisted police arrest and became aggressive,” he said.

Haki Africa has called for the prosecution of the officers who brutalised the woman.