Detectives are investigating a case in which a police officer in Ongata Rongai allegedly opened a blank cartridge on the face of a suspect.
Moses Karathe, who had been arrested with two others, was hit in his right eye by the propellant force that ruptured the cornea.
Kajiado North subcounty police commander Abduba Hussein said the matter has been handed over to the DCI to investigate.
“I'm aware of the allegations that were brought to me on Friday night and our officers have already taken up the matter,” Hussein said on Wednesday afternoon.
The Kajiado North police boss said the allegations are serious and that the DCI officers will follow the matter to a conclusion.
Jackline Lesoi, the aunt of Karathe, said her nephew was admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital.
“He was expected to be operated on his right eye this morning at 9am. Doctors said his cornea was blown out,” Lesoi said.
She said her nephew was arrested on Friday evening along with two other people from a building where he manages as a caretaker.
“The police officer who arrested them claimed the three were smelling of bhang and demanded that they pay him Sh20,000 to secure their release,” Lesoi claimed.
She said her brother went to negotiate for Karathe's release.
“When he was asked to pay Sh20,000, he told the police that he had only Sh4,000 on his M-Pesa account. He was told by the officer to go and withdraw the money and take the cash to him,” Lesoi claimed.
She alleged that before her brother returned with the money, another police officer arrived and threatened to kill Karathe.
“He cocked his gun and placed the barrel on Karathe’s eye and released the blank that shattered his eye,” Lesoi claimed.
She said her nephew fell to the ground and the officer who had arrested him fled from the police post.
Her nephew was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital at midnight on Friday, she said.
