Police officer attack 16-year-old boy in Meru

Meru, Kenya: The parents of a 16 year old boy who was assaulted and seriously injured by two police officers at Kanjoo police post in Igembe Central sub-county in Meru have called on the government to take disciplinary action against the officer.

Timothy Mugambi who is a form two student at Matiandoi day secondary school was allegedly attacked by the police officers when he went to demand for his money from one of them.

The boy who was in great pain and a swollen face was given an assignment by the officer and was to be paid on completion.

His father Isaac Meme said his son was assigned by the police officer to irrigate and spray his miraa farm at a cost of Sh3,000.

Meme said his son used to do the job immediately after finishing the day's classes and on completing the assignment he decided to go and demand for his dues.

"When he demanded for his dues, two police officers descended on him with kicks, blows, wooden pieces and gun butts before he fell on to the ground sustaining bruises on different parts of the body. He was locked at Kanjoo police post on allegations that he had stolen a generator and Sh5,000 from the post," said Meme.

He said the police officer has rented a miraa farm from one of the neighbours and always hires locals for manual jobs.

On learning that his son had been locked, they decided to go and find out but were chased by the same police officer before the boy was transferred to Maua police station.

Meme said the OCS intervened and had the boy released before he was taken to Maua Methodist Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

The father says he strongly believes the police officer wanted to kill his son in order to cover up for the crime and evidence.

He now wants disciplinary action including interdiction to be taken against the culprit who assaulted the innocent boy.

A children officer Miriti Thabo also said disciplinary action should be taken against the police officer because they are other alternatives of handling the matter.

He said it was very wrong to assault the boy noting children cases should be handled with care.

The police officer is said to have been transferred from Kanjoo to Kageta two weeks ago but refused to move due to his shop and bar business in the post.