“Assaulted and charged”, Boniface Mwangi recounts harrowing ordeal at the hands of police officers

Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has opened up on what he describes as a brutal and unjustified assault by police officers at his Sema Ukweli office on the night of April 2, 2025.

Going to his social platform, Mwangi recounted the traumatic events that unfolded at the hands of officers allegedly drunk on duty, and the subsequent twist that saw him being charged with assault instead of receiving justice.

According to Mwangi, the ordeal began around 9.30 pm when three officers—Inspector Stanley Yano, Sergeant Osman Omar, and Constable Robert Ouko—arrived at his office claiming to be responding to a noise complaint. However, what began as a purported routine check quickly escalated into a scene of violence and chaos.

“Constable Ouko was drunk, chewing miraa, and aggressive from the moment he walked in,” said Mwangi. “He started roughing us up without provocation. When I questioned Inspector Yano about why Ouko was armed and working in that condition, everything spiralled out of control.”

A scuffle broke out during which Mwangi alleges Ouko attempted to cock his firearm to shoot him. “One of my colleagues pushed his gun away just in time,” he said.

The officers then handcuffed Mwangi, forcefully dragged him out of the office, and allegedly beat him as his colleagues and neighbours watched in shock. “They pulled me so hard the handcuffs tore into my skin. The handcuffs eventually fell to the ground—none of the officers bothered to pick them up. One of my colleagues did, and we still have them.”

As they forced him into a police vehicle, Mwangi says Ouko struck him hard in the ribs with the butt of his gun. Upon arrival at Kilimani Police Station, things worsened.

“Ouko followed me into the cell and began punching me again while another officer held me down. I screamed in pain. My colleagues, who had followed the vehicle, shouted at the officers to stop. That’s probably what saved me.”

It wasn’t until the early hours of April 3 that, according to Mwangi, Kilimani OCS Albert Chebii found him in visible distress. He ordered that Mwangi be taken to Nairobi Hospital under armed escort. Medical examinations showed injuries to his wrists, knee, ribs, and face. “I had a busted lip, blurry vision in my left eye, and pain all over. Thankfully, no internal fractures were found, but the trauma was real,” he said.

Accountability

Despite the gravity of the incident, Mwangi says the officers responsible have not faced accountability. He reported the assault under OB No. 84/02/04/25. When he informed the OCS about the left-behind handcuffs and the stolen personal items—including his watch and AirPods—he was told the officers involved were “asleep” and that investigations would follow.

Mwangi was released on a Sh5,000 police bond and advised not to publicise the case. “They told me to keep quiet because investigations were ongoing. Then they sent an emissary begging me not to post the CCTV footage or photos of my injuries.”

Before travelling for scheduled work in Brazil and Ghana, Mwangi reported the incident to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA/CMU/1250/2025).

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• Boniface Mwangi recounts harrowing ordeal at the hands of police officers

“You can never fully trust our police,” he said. “They lie. I wanted to ensure my case was documented.”

His fears were validated when, according to Mwangi on April 7, while he was still abroad, the police quietly filed charges against him in Kibera Law Court for “offensive conduct and assault.” Mwangi only learned of the charges after the court had already set a plea date without notifying him.

“My lawyer rushed to court and presented all the evidence that I was out of the country—invitation letters, tickets, passport stamps. Still, the court issued a warrant for my arrest. The new date for plea-taking is April 22.”

“I was beaten, my property stolen, and assaulted by a drunk officer, and now I’m the one facing charges?” Mwangi asked in disbelief. “At 41, I got my first black eye—courtesy of a police officer who was intoxicated and armed.”

Mwangi’s statement has sparked fresh concerns over police accountability and the treatment of citizens by law enforcement in Kenya. The activist has long been a vocal critic of police brutality and corruption, and his experience emphasises what many say is a deepening crisis in the country’s policing system.

“This isn’t just about me,” Mwangi concluded. “This is about the countless Kenyans who suffer silently, who are beaten, framed, and intimidated by those meant to protect them. If they can do this to me—a public figure—imagine what they do to the voiceless.”