Kisumu residents want policeman arrested for brutality

Evans Otieno who was allegedly assaulted by police in Kisumu over personal differences on July 29 2016. He is currently receiving treatment at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital. PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR

Residents are demanding the arrest of a policeman who beat and locked up a man he differed with.

Evans Otieno, who was admitted to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, said he met the policeman, identified only as Muleu, in a pub near Kondele Police Station at around 11pm. His attempts to greet the policeman were met with brutal violence that left his face swollen, he said.

"I went to greet him and jokingly asked how he had been since threatening us with his gun two weeks ago but that seemed to have rubbed him the wrong way," said Mr Otieno (pictured above).

"He asked if I was working with IPOA (Independent Police Oversight Authority) and slapped me. At that point, the bar owner came and advised me to leave him alone and go home," he added.

However, Otieno said, the policeman followed him and attacked him.

"He claimed I was resisting arrest and called two of his colleagues and they led me to Kondele Police Station. At the station they beat me up, booked me in as 'unknown' and threw me into the cells," he said.

MEDICAL ATTENTION

Otieno said while inside the cell, the police officer attacked him again. His request to be released so he could seek medical treatment fell on deaf ears.

"I told him he had injured me and that I needed medical attention but he would hear none of it," said Otieno who was released at midday yesterday when Kondele residents staged a demonstration.

Kisumu human rights activist Audi Ogada is now demanding the arrest of the two policemen involved.

This comes at a time when police investigations into the alleged assault by the elite Quick Response Team and the Cobra Squad officers are yet to be made public.

Members of the two squads reportedly raided Kaloleni estate on the night of July 18, attacked residents and stole food and household items.

Defending the policemen involved in Otieno's beating, Kisumu Officer Commanding Police Division Wilston Mwakio said his officers "used reasonable force to arrest a man who was creating disturbance in a bar in Kondele".