UN worker in assault claim to be probed

Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has ordered investigations after photographs of a woman’s bruised face were published on social media, following claims she was beaten by her husband.

The 26-year-old woman claimed police had failed to arrest the man because he says he enjoys diplomatic immunity as a United Nations employee.

A letter by assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jacinta Nyamosi read: “The reports also indicate that the complainant has reported several cases of abuse but no action has been taken so far.”

UN Environment Programme (Unep) head of news and media Shereen Zorba said the man is their employee but noted that the agency’s workers have no diplomatic immunity for criminal acts. She said the staff are expected to comply with the law.

“Unep has learnt with shock and consternation about the serious allegations of physical assault to a woman carried out by one of its staff members,” she said.

Ms Zorba added that “the concerned staff person has voluntarily met with police to help with their investigations” and that Unep was committed to fully complying with the investigations by Kenyan authorities.

The woman told the Nairobi News online publication that she reported the assault at Nairobi’s Kiamumbi Police Station after the Sunday incident.

The couple, who have a three-year-old son, separated in 2012.

The woman further alleged that the man, who is from Papua New Guinea, arrived home drunk and turned violent while demanding food.

“We separated two months after I gave birth. Since then, he has been picking him (son) every weekend and returning him,” she said.

“When he arrived, he was drunk and the baby was dripping wet. I took him to the bedroom for a change of clothes. He picked a quarrel with the househelp, asking why there was no food in the house. When I came from the bedroom, he slapped, kicked and smashed me against the wall.”