CS Matiang’i talks of police brutality on University of Nairobi students

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i

NAIROBI—Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i broke his silence on police brutality saying serious action would be taken against General Service Unit officers who attacked and injured students at the University of Nairobi following protests on Thursday, September 28.

Addressing students of Kebirigo Secondary School in Nyamira County on Sunday, Dr Matiang’i said he would not spare any officer found to be involved in the assault of the university students and will face full force of the law.

“Everybody wants to know if what was in social media and the press is true. I don’t want to rely on media reports,” he said.

Matiang’i, who is also the CS for Education, said investigations have commenced into the incident with the aim of bringing to book the culprits and said he expected a report on the assault from Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet before taking any action.

“As always, I want to let every Kenyan know that this country believes in the rule of law.” Matiang’i added.

The minister said the government did not condone violence on civilians by security agents.

Police were captured on amateur cameras badly beating helpless students within the university compound, inflicting serious injuries on some of them.

The GSU officers gained access into the university following protests carried out by UoN students demanding the release of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, a former Nairobi university student leader.

Some pictures showed helpless students being cornered in their lecture halls and raising hands but still received severe beatings.