Police officer ‘tried to strip’ schoolgirl
What you need to know:
- The two were arrested by the public during the Sunday afternoon incident, the third reported in less than two weeks in Nairobi where women have been targeted over their mode of dress.
- Last week, Deputy President William Ruto reassured women of their security and called on police officers to not only arrest, but prosecute those behind “these primitive acts.”
- Monday, the police officer denied a further charge of injuring the student’s aunt as she attempted to rescue her from her molesters.
A policeman was Monday charged with assaulting and attempting to undress a schoolgirl in a matatu.
Mr Christopher Gathara, an instructor at the Administration Police Training College, was charged alongside Mr Samuel Maina Ngige, who was a passenger in vehicle.
The two were arrested by the public during the Sunday afternoon incident, the third reported in less than two weeks in Nairobi where women have been targeted over their mode of dress.
Last week, Deputy President William Ruto reassured women of their security and called on police officers to not only arrest, but prosecute those behind “these primitive acts.”
Monday, the police officer denied a further charge of injuring the student’s aunt as she attempted to rescue her from her molesters.
He denied he assaulted Ms Patricia Nkatha Mabe and injured her skull. (We have withheld the girl’s name as she is an underage).
Mr Gathara and Mr Maina were also charged with damaging the windscreen of the matatu belonging to Mwamba Sacco.
According to the charge sheet, the girl and her aunt were travelling on Route 19 towards Komarock Phase IV in the back seat at the time they were accosted.
“The first accused, who is a corporal at the Administration Police started seducing the first complainant and upon seeing that she was not interested, started abusing her before he was joined by the second accused who threatened to strip her,” the report states.
They told the student that she should wear the skirt only in the presence of her husband, the report further says.
“One of the accused poured juice on the complainant and both pretended to wipe it off while touching her thighs...” A commotion ensued and the driver drove to the Mwamba office. The passengers ordered the vehicle to be taken to Kayole Police Station and as another struggle ensued to keep the suspects from escaping they damaged the windscreen,’’ the report further states.
The hearing was set for February 9, next year.
