By Renson Buluma
Busia County: Two Prison officers attached to Busia GK Prison are nursing serious injuries after they were attacked by a group of drunken villagers in Emaseno village, Busia County.
A witness said the officers, who were in civilian clothes and armed with handcuffs, allegedly stormed a chang’aa den and threatened to arrest those they found drinking.
“The officers introduced themselves as regular police officers and demanded that those who were drinking give a bribe of at least Sh3,000 for their freedom,” said the witness.
The owner of the den allegedly gave the officers Sh500 before she asked her customers to contribute the remaining amount. ?But in the process of ‘fundraiser’, an issue was raised. One of the villagers insisted he had seen the officers guarding an inmate at the Busia Law Courts. They then asked the officers to officially identify themselves before receiving the bribe.
“The officers declined to identify themselves and that is when hell broke loose,” said Irene Ekapolon.
Irate villagers who were at the den attacked the officers with kicks and blows, calling them ‘thieves’.
There has been a spate of criminal activities in the area where residents have suffered attacks from organised gangs.
Police rescue
The two had to be saved by regular police officers who were at a nearby roadblock.
They were later arrested and taken to Busia Police Station and recorded statements before they were taken to hospital for treatment.
Busia OCPD Kenneth Kimani confirmed that wananchi assaulted the two officers.
“According to the statement recorded, the officers were looking for items which were stolen from their compound when they were accosted by the mob,” said Kimani.
He added, “We are investigating the matter to ascertain if indeed they were beaten because they were demanding for a bribe.”
He said one of the officers was in serious condition. Officer in charge of the Busia GK Prison Jonathan Mwavita, however, denied his officers had been attacked.
