Malindi warder hospitalised after attack by senior officer

A prison officer, hospitalised with several injuries, has accused one of his seniors of assaulting him and causing him to be hit by a police vehicle.

Mr Peter Ndirangu, an officer at Malindi GK Prison, was admitted at Malindi Sub-county Hospital, Kilifi County, with injuries to his back, legs, waist and arm.

DISAGREEMENTS

Speaking from his hospital bed on Saturday, Mr Ndirangu accused Superintendent Lenny Jumba of hitting him with the butt of a gun following a disagreement.

The police constable, who was with his wife Mercy, said the assault came after he refused to follow two senior officers to a drinking spree after an earlier misunderstanding.

He said he and the two senior officers had disagreed several times before but did not reveal why.

Mr Ndirangu said that after he refused to follow the officers, one chased after him.

“He coked his Ceska pistol and hit me with it on the head yet I had surrendered,” he said adding.

"Mr Jumba’s, colleague Superintendent Ochanji, threatened to kill me, cut my body into pieces and hand the remains to the police station.”

POLICE VEHICLE

Officer Ndirangu said he rushed to the office to report the matter, but that little did he know that the officers had called for a police van from the station.

"I refused to board the vehicle," he said, adding the officer then pushed him to the ground, behind the police Land Cruiser, which ran into him.

At the hospital, Mr Ndirangu could neither sit nor walk to the washrooms.

His wife said his colleagues rushed him to the hospital after the culprit ordered the driver of the Land Cruiser to leave for Malindi Police Station after he was hit.

Mrs Ndirangu asked authorities to transfer her husband to another hospital, saying they did not feel safe and that he needed specialised care.

INVESTIGATION

Coast Regional Prison Commander James Ngaira, who visited Mr Ndirangu at the hospital, told journalists that he was injured after differing with his seniors.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Mr Ngaira said they had launched a probe and that “serious action will be taken against the officers involved".

“Disciplinary action will be taken against the culprits and if it is a matter for the courts, they will be charged," he said.

Malindi divisional police commander Matawa Muchangi said he will issue a statement on the matter after gathering information.

Sources at the prison, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said some senior officers intimidate and harass their juniors before their wives, children and members of the public.

“There is a go-slow at Malindi GK prison as the officers are protesting against rampant injustice by their seniors,” the source said.