BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
Journalist Chrispinus Wekesa has written to the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) accusing Moi’s Bridge police station OCS of assaulting him.
He also arrested and took the journalist to quarantine without disclosing his offense.
In the letter, Wekesa said Samson Kipruto assaulted him in his office in Mois Bridge Town.
Wekesa visited the Station on May 18 when he went to seek help.
The letter reads in part, “I was seeking a release letter to accompany my press card to travel back to Nairobi after the president announced cessation of movement in and out of Nairobi.”
The Nairobi based journalist is an Editor at Hot News Online Publications.
He was held up in Uasin County where he went for an assignment before President Uhuru suspended movements in and out of Nairobi.
Uhuru’s announcement was one of the protocols he put in place to arrest the spread of Covid-19.
In the letter that has also been addressed to the Ombudsman and copied to the Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council Of Kenya, Wekesa said Kipruto kicked him in the groin, slapped him twice, before punching him on the neck.
The Journalist says, “I staggered and police officer Maina held me so that I do not fall on the ground.” Wekesa claims another officer only identified as Kirui also restrained the OCS.
The drama started when Maina and Kirui who Wekesa met at the station directed him to the OCS after he explained to them what he wanted.
In the OCS’ office Wekesa kept a 1.5-meter distance and lowered his face mask to explain what he wanted from the senior officer.
He said he felt he was mumbling and wanted his face seen.
“Before I even greeted the OCS Mr Samson Kipruto, he ordered Kirui and Maina to arrest me.” Wekesa said.
Kipruto allegedly said Wekesa was a criminal and ordered he be locked in the cells.
Wekesa told Hot News he had never met the OCS before.
The Scribe has also accused the senior cop of beating women he had arrested from the nearby market.
Wekesa says he spent the night at the police station together with other inmates where they exposed each other to Covid-19 since there was no social distancing.
“In the morning, he sent Maina who called us out. We were seven inmates who had been bundled into the police cell. He ordered that we be taken to Kaplelach Quarantine Centre in Soi, Uasin Gishu County” He says in the letter.
Wekesa says he does not understand why he was arrested yet he went to seek help.
“At the quarantine center, there was no social distancing, we were all sent into a classroom, men and women, there was no respect for gender. This is before we were processed.” He complains to IPOA.
He wants Kipruto investigated for infringement of his rights and exposing the office of the OCS to ridicule.
“He is a bad example to the police officers who recently transitioned from the Administration Police Service.” He said.
Wekesa was released after spending several hours at the quarantine facility after fellow Journalists protested in both mainstream and social media.
This prompted the local administration and Senior police officers to intervene.