A family in Watamu is demanding justice after their 16-year-old son was allegedly assaulted by police officers at Kizingo Police Station in Malindi. The Form Three student from Barani Secondary School was on his way home in a matatu when he had a disagreement with another passenger. The conductor reportedly took him to the nearby police station, where officers allegedly beat him with a wooden bar.
The teenager says the beating left him with serious injuries on his thighs, making it difficult to walk or attend school. “My classmates are doing exams, but I’ve not been able to go to school due to the pain,” he said.
His mother, Phiona Maitha, said she was called by a police officer and informed that her son was at the station. Upon arrival, she learned he had already been “disciplined.” She took him home, but the next day, his condition worsened, prompting a return to the station to file a complaint. Officers were initially hesitant to record their statement in the Occurrence Book.
Maitha has called for government intervention, expressing concern about whether her son will get justice. Local businessman Joseph Kiponda intervened by contacting senior officers to ensure the family’s statement was recorded and an OB number issued. He vowed to follow up with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), stating that the student, still in uniform at the time of the assault, deserves justice.
