Mombasa Blogger’s abduction, assault sparks calls for justice against political violence

Bruce John, popularly known as Chawa, was brutally abducted from his home in Bamburi by people linked to Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir, before being assaulted, sodomised and left in a dumpsite at Mwakirunge area within Mombasa county. 

While four people have been charged with the abduction and sexual assault of the blogger, many Kenyans are calling for the arrest and prosecution of Governor Abdulswamad, whom Bruce has accused of having a hand in his ordeal. 

Governor Abdulswamad has since come out to deny any involvement in the abduction and gang-raping of Chawa, saying it is political witch-hunt by his opponents.

“This time around, those of you abusing and criticising us, even implicating our parents, what we will do to you come 2027 we will not do it right now. We will wait for 2027 and remind all the evils you have done to our people,” Abdulswamad said on Monday.

The governor revealed that he has been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), together with his mother, to record statements over the assault of Chawa. 

Also, Mombasa County Executive Committee (CEC) for Lands and Urban Planning Mohamed Hussein was arrested on Sunday in connection with Chawa’s case, but released on Monday after obtaining anticipatory bail orders. 

But how did we get here?

Chawa, going by his social media activity, is a staunch supporter of Mombasa Woman Rep Zamzam Mohamed, and a strong critic of Governor Abdulswamad and his administration. 

In many videos shared on his social media platforms, especially Tiktok, Chawa takes on the Mombasa county government, criticising Governor Abdulswamad for mismanaging the county and doing absolutely nothing to improve the status of the island.

At the same time, the victim viciously defends Woman Rep Zamzam, saying she has been at the forefront fighting for the Mombasa residents, and that this has irked the Governor’s camp because she is allegedly stealing all the limelight. 

In many of his videos, Chawa vows to defend Zamzam by all means, taking on anyone against her. 

It was in one of his missions to defend the Woman Rep that he lost his cool and dragged the name of Governor Abdulswamad’s mother and wife in their online war. 

In the unpalatable video clip, Chawa flagrantly abuses the governor’s family, hurling insults in retaliation for what he claimed were the same insults directed at the Woman Rep and her husband. 

He further accused Abdulswamad of sidelining ‘watu wa bara’ where the Woman Rep is said to come from. 

It is believed these insults are the reason Chawa was abducted from his house in Bamburi by the people said to be linked to the Governor.

His abductors knocked at his door and duped him to believe that Governor Abdulswamad wanted to meet him at one of the hotels in Mombasa to iron out their differences. 

In an interview from his hospital bed where he was receiving treatment after the assault, Chawa narrated how the about 20 abductors rode with him on a motorbike to the said hotel, only for him to be bundled into a waiting car.

In the car, he was blindfolded, sandwiched between two men and asked why he was abusing the governor and his family.

“When we got to Nyali Bridge, they placed a sack over my head and started assaulting me, asking me why I was soiling the name of Governor Abdulswamad. We drive for a while with the assaults continuing,” Chawa narrated. 

He said finally they got to the place where he was thrown out of the car and surrounded by the same people who had abducted him from his home. 

“They started beating me in turns while I lay on the ground. I tried to beg with them to let me free but they couldn’t hear me. Then two guys who normally collect waste in Mombasa started sodomising me in turns while the other group recorded the ordeal,” a tearful Chawa said. 

The abductors threatened to leak the recorded video if Chawa dared to reveal what had happened to him.

The assault went on for hours during the night, and at some point he passed out. Chawa says he heard one of the gang leaders speak to Governor Abdulswamad on phone who allegedly sent them Ksh10,000 for the good work they had done. 

He further claims the governor sent another Ksh7,000 to the gang. The gang would later dump him in an abandoned building near the Mwakirunge dumpsite in Mombasa, where Chawa trekked for a few kilometres and a bodaboda rider drove him to Bamburi, where he narrated what had happened to his family.

Chawa recorded a statement at Bamburi Police Station and was later taken to the Coast General Hospital where he claims nurses were reluctant to attend to him after he mentioned that the Governor’s people had assaulted him. 

He was transferred to another facility where he was admitted and treated.

“All I want is justice. These guys assaulted me for speaking my mind. I am calling on the authorities and human rights defenders to help me get justice,” he asked. 

So far, four people have been arrested and charged with the assault. Kenyans have come out in large numbers to demand justice for Chawa, with many calling for Governor Abdulswamad to be arrested and charged.

The governor has since denied any wrongdoing, and has been summoned by DCI to record a statement over the same. 

His CEC for Lands Mohamed was briefly arrested and released on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Chawa hopes justice will prevail.