AP officers to face disciplinary action for assault on administrator

By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

Turkana County

Administration Police officers accused of beating and injuring an administrator could face disciplinary action once investigation is complete.

Turkana North District Commissioner has launched investigation over alleged misconduct by the four Administration Police officers who assaulted a chief.

The officers attached to his office beat and injured Lokitaung Sub-Chief Josephine Asimit Ekal near Lokitaung Police Station when she tried to stop a student protest.

Ms Ekal said the officers roughed her up after she advised them not to injure rioting Lokitaung Secondary School students.

Intervened

"I only intervened by advising them not to take the law upon themselves by injuring the students when I saw them beating the students and firing live shots at them," she narrated.

"But they instead got infuriated with my utterances before descending on me," she added.

Ekal said she was only performing her duties as an administrator. "Thank God I was saved by their prudent colleagues from the brutal beating," she said.

DC Albert Mwilitsa said they had launched a probe into the conduct of the suspected AP officers behind the unfortunate incident.

Mwilitsa said the chief’s medical report indicated she had a left hand fracture, head and eye bruises and was also complaining of chest pains.

Unacceptable

"We will mete out disciplinary action against them once investigation is done. We cannot condone a culture where officers attack their seniors," Mwilitsa told The Standard on the telephone.

He said the assistant chief has recorded a statement with police and has been issued with a P3 form.

Ekal identified the DC’s escort, a driver and two others, as being among the attackers.