Drama in Turkana after KDF soldiers who slapped, disarmed and ordered police officer to kneel arrested

There was drama at Lodwar Police Station as Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers engaged in a bitter confrontation with police officers for arresting four of their colleagues.

The KDF officers reportedly stormed the station and surrounded it demanding the release of the quartet who had earlier been arrested for allegedly disarming and assaulting a police officer  manning a roadblock.

A video seen by Citizen Digital captured the four officers in question while seated outside the station as a senior police officer lectured them over their uncouth behaviour.

“You are shooting in the air? Is that how you guys are taught, sincerely speaking?” Turkana Central Sub-County Police Commander Samwel Boit is heard questioning the KDF soldiers in the video.

According to a police report, the four had disarmed Police Constable Cleophas Makhapila at a roadblock near Turkana University College, slapped him and ordered him to go down on his knees before one of the soldiers shot severally in the air after the officer refused to kneel before them.

The bullish soldiers, who were at the time riding in a water bowser towards Moi Garden to fetch water, then ordered the officer to collect his firearm at Loturerei army camp in Kanam Kemer Ward.

“It happened that officers delayed removing the erected spikes at the said roadblock and the KDF water bowser was approaching. The driver of the said water bowser alighted and slapped the officer on his right cheek,” stated the report.

“Another officer alighted using the passenger door and grabbed his AK47 assault rifle and cocked immediately. He uttered the words ‘Sisi tumeua Al Shabaab wengi, naweza kumaliza wewe sai.’ He ordered Cleophas to go on his knees but he refused. He fired four rounds of live ammunition.”

The besieged officer then informed Commander Boit of the incident an alert was put out to other patrol roadblocks to keep an eye out for the KDF soldiers and the water bowser, eventually tracking them down to Moi Garden.

“Upon arrival, three KDF officers were seated in a shade and the driver was inside the water bowser. When they were ordered to surrender, the driver cocked his AK47 assault rifle, prompting officers to shoot in the air… the driver surrendered by alighting from the said water bowser and left his rifle inside,” noted the report.

The soldiers were requested to drive their water bowser to the station to establish what had happened but they resisted, forcing the police officers to arrest and escort them to the station, leaving behind the water bowser.

The development led to more soldiers arriving at the station in a bid to compel the police officers to release their mates as other officials of the Sub-County Security Committee, engaged with KDF bosses over the matter.

“Upon arriving at Lodwar Police station, a section of KDF officers arrived on board a land cruiser and cordoned the station while led by Lt. D O Okelo motive was yet to be known,” the report added.

 “Mr Boit was informed and came immediately and talked to Lt. D O Okelo who instructed his officers to get back to the vehicle and calm the situation since it had raised tension as all court proceedings had stopped since members of the public were eager to witness.”

The four KDF soldiers, who refused to identify themselves, were booked and detained and will reportedly be charged with robbery with violence.