- A police report said the KDF officers were riding in a water bowser at the time of the incident at around 11am Tuesday.
- Police said the arrested KDF officers refused to provide their identities and were booked as unknown.
Police at Lodwar Police Station on Tuesday arrested Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who slapped and disarmed their colleague at a roadblock for delaying to remove spikes on the road. https://rb.gy/ew7d0n
Image: HANDOUT
Police at Lodwar Police Station on Tuesday arrested Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who slapped and disarmed their colleague at a roadblock for delaying to remove spikes on the road.
A police report said the KDF officers were riding in a water bowser at the time of the incident around 11am.
“It happened that officers delayed to remove the erected spikes at the said road block and the Kenya defence force (KDF) water bowser was approaching.
“The driver of the said water bowser alighted and slapped the officer on his right cheek. Another officer alighted using the passenger door and grabbed his rifle, an AK47 assault rifle, and cocked immediately," the police report said.
"He uttered the words, "Sisi tumeua alshabaab wengi, naweza kumaliza wewe sai."
Police said the officer who was disarmed was manning a road bloack at Mt Kenya area in the company of three other officers from Turkana county enforcement department.
According to the police report, the KDF officer ordered the officer whose firearm he had snatched to go down on his knees but he refused.
The KDF officer then told the traffic officer to collect the rifle at Loturerei camp where they are based.
“They left towards Lodwar town,” the police report added.
The disarmed officer identified as Cleophas Makhapila informed the subcounty police commander Turkana Central about the incident.
The subcounty commander mobilised patrol and shortly afterwards the water bowser was spotted heading towards Moi Garden within Lodwar town where KDF usually collect their water.
Police said the officers drawn from Lodwar Police station proceeded to Moi Garden to ascertain what transpired.
Image: HANDOUT
Three KDF officers were seated under a shade while the driver was inside the water bowser, police said.
“When they were ordered to surrender, the driver cocked his AK47 assault rifle. This prompted officers to shoot in air and the driver surrendered by alighting from the said water bowser and left his rifle inside,” police report said.
Police recovered two AK47 assault rifles from inside the cabin of the water bowser.
One had a magazine of 29 rounds of ammunition while the other had a magazine of 26 rounds.
Police said the KDF officers were requested to drive their water bowser to the station and establish what really transpired but they refused.
Their commander who was wearing a badge of sergeant said that they were not going anywhere, police said.
“This prompted officers to effect arrest and escort them to Lodwar Police station for further necessary action. The driver of the water bowser refused to hand over the ignition keys and it was left at Moi Garden where they had parked.”
Police said the arrested KDF officers refused to provide their identities and were booked as unknown.
They said the incident drew a lot of attention from members of the public who wanted to witness what was transpiring.
The incident raised tension and stalled proceedings at the nearby court, police said.
They said the situation was compounded further after a section of KDF officers arrived on board a land cruiser and cordoned the station.
“The SCPC Turkana Central Boit was informed and came immediately and talked to Lt DO Okelo who instructed his officers to get back to the vehicle and calm the situation. The situation later calmed. DCI Turkana Central dealing.”
The police report said the KDF officers will be charged with robbery with violence.