- A police report said the KDF officers were riding in a water bowser at the time of the incident around 11 am.
- The KDF officer then told the traffic officer to collect the rifle at Loturerei camp where they are based.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenya Defence Forces have rubbished claims that soldiers from the force assaulted and stormed a police station in Lodwar, Turkana.
On Wednesday, police at Lodwar Police Station arrested KDF soldiers who allegedly slapped and disarmed their colleague at a roadblock for delaying the removal of spikes on the road.
KDF said their attention was drawn from videos, photos, and texts circulating on both mainstream and social media on the arrest of KDF soldiers on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
"Notably, it has so far been established that; KDF soldiers neither, "assaulted" police officers nor, "stormed" the station as alleged," KDF said in a statement.
"The orchestration of the detainment is demeaning in context, intended to embarrass, humiliate, and create alarm. The incident, though localized and occurring at a tactical level, is of great concern to the entire KDF fraternity. It also degrades the complementary spirit in Multi-Agency environments and operations," KDF said.
KDF further said that joint investigations by the relevant authorities are probing the matter.
They commended the professionalism and restraint of KDF troops operating in Lodwar.
"The troops deployed in Lodwar and other areas remain professional, subordinate to civilian authority, as stipulated in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, and a reliable partner in the Multi-Agency approaches towards enhancement on the delivery of security dividends."
KDF said that it is fully seized of the obligation to cooperate and assist other authorities in Multi-Agency efforts to provide security, and defence for Kenya.
A police report on Wednesday said the KDF officers were riding in a water bowser at the time of the incident around 11 am.
“It happened that officers delayed removing the erected spikes at the said roadblock 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 disarmed officer was manning a roadblock at the Mt Kenya area in the company of three other officers from the 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.
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.”