Boniface Mwangi Arrested And Beaten Like A Stray Dog As He Attemps To Expose The Rot In Kidero’s Backyard (Photos)
The price of being an activist here in Kenya is constant whipping by law enforcement officers or better a night or two in filthy cells. Boniface Mwangi knows this too well because he has been to hell and back a number of times thanks to his activism.
Yesterday, the city was mobbed by motorbike operators who were protesting against being mistreated by county officials.
See also: Motorbike Operators Bring CBD To A Standstill
They were not alone in crying foul. Boniface Mwangi’s friend, a courier delivery, was also mistreated by county officials.
According to Boniface, his crony was wrenched off his bike by kanjos who then took it to City Hall. The Rights Activist says the dreaded kanjos are fond of snatching motorbikes from their owners then demanding hefty fines to return them.
Boniface himself being a biker and a stubborn activist decided to pay Kidero’s boys a visit. He went to City Hall with an intention of stripping naked the cartels who have been raking in millions by blatantly stealing from hardworking Kenyans in broad daylight.
But as fate would have it, Boniface met his match. A godzilla face minimum wage Administration police stopped him by the door after a heated verbal exchange and started beating him silly.
He was then arrested and taken to County basement cells where a heavy dose of burukenge-like beating was administered to him.
Boniface must have an angel watching over him because he was released somehow. (I hear those kanjos survive by drinking blood just like Vampire diaries’ thirsty creatures of the night.)
Anyway the activist was released on a police bond of Ksh 50,000 and he will be arraigned in court on Tuesday, 14th of July.
For what charges again? Creating disturbance and resisting arrest.
Visit the next page to see photos and Boniface’s narration of his ordeal:
I’m fine. Battered, bruised but my spirit is unbroken.
A friend of mine who does courier delivery was arrested 1st July at 8am. He was yanked off his bike, which was taken to City Hall. No arrest was made. On following up with the officers they chased him away. I rode there at 3pm to find out what was going on.
l knocked a lot of doors, following up on my friend’s impounded bike and no one was offering an explanation. At around 4:30pm, l left the City Hall Annex offices and headed to the main City hall building. I was stopped by an Administration police officer who refused me entry. Asking why, he arrogantly replied “because I said so”. An argument ensued and l decided to record the conversation, that’s when all hell broke loose. He tried to snatch my phone, l stepped back and he started assaulting me. They arrested and took me to the County basement cells. 5 more officers joined them as they dragged, kicked and tore my shirt, sweater, and trousers. They proceeded to beat me up thoroughly. They confiscated phone and deleted what I had recorded earlier.
Fact is, a big cartel in city hall has found a way to exploit Boda Boda (motorbike taxis) riders. They impound motorbikes, with no offence stated nor make any arrests. The Bikes are impounded and a fee of 1000 shillings charged every day. They are only released at least 2 weeks later for no less than 14,000 Shillings. The city hall bike cartel is minting hundreds of thousands of shillings from innocent bike riders. If anyone has committed any offence they should be arrested and charged. Boda boda operators have no problem being arrested for actual offences committed and formally charged but protest unwarranted harassment.
The police assaulted me because they thought I was a boda boda rider. Once they knew who I was, the physical violence turned to verbal abuse. I have been released on a police bond of Ksh 50,000 and l will be arraigned in court on Tuesday, 14th July. The charges are creating disturbance and resisting arrest.
Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to secure my release. The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders for providing the cash bail and working overtime as always. Lawyers Wanyoike Waikwa, Lempaa Soyinka and Wahome Thuku-thank you. Shout out to the Chairman of Motorcycle Kenya Pastor Nick Korir, the superhero bikers club and other bikers who rode-in large numbers to the police station and escorted me to the hospital.
Thank you for all the messages, the phone calls, the tweets, l truly feel your love. To the kind stranger who shot the video of the assault, Asante Sana, that’s #Courage Aluta Continua.
