Kenya: Police Officer Arrested for Assault on Radio Presenter Angela Muiruri
Miuri was among 21 women beaten by police during a raid in 2020
Location: Kenya, Nairobi
Date: December 4, 2023
A senior police officer was arrested pending trial for the brutal 2020 assault on well-known radio host Angela Muiruri. During a police raid amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Muiruri and others were slapped and whipped by police officers before being detained. The brutal incident that took place in Nairobi is a stark reminder of the dangers journalists, especially women, face while performing their duties. The fact that it took three years for an arrest to be made in this case is deeply concerning. It raises questions about the commitment to protecting journalists and ensuring those who harm them are held accountable. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom welcomes the news of the arrest but also recognizes that it is just the first step toward justice. We call for a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into this matter.
On December 3, 2023, a police officer in Turkana Central was apprehended in connection with the assault of Capital FM journalist Angela Muiruri in 2020. Muiruri, a former Miss Kenya-USA pageant winner and a prominent radio presenter, was among 21 women assaulted during a security operation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The violent episode unfolded at a garden party in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, on December 19, 2020, when ten police officers stormed the premises. When Muiruri questioned the police's actions, she was slapped, sustaining injuries to her legs.
"As a citizen, I understand my rights and I say you cannot manhandle women like that. I think that made the officer mad,” she said after the incident. “I was slapped, but I tapped back at the officer, and that is when he proceeded to whip me."
“I was slapped, but I tapped back at the officer, and that is when he proceeded to whip me”
The other women present were also whipped, and all were detained in the parking lot for several hours before being taken into custody at Muthangari Police Station. The women were reportedly forced to sign a document saying they broke COVID-related curfew restrictions and had to pay a fine before being released.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated online, ignited public outcry over the police's conduct.
Muiruri's attempts to report the incident to various police stations, including Kileleshwa, Kilimani, and Nairobi, proved futile. Eventually, an investigation by Kenya’s Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) revealed that the police officer allegedly applied excessive force on Muiruri, leading to two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, as per section 251 of the Penal Code.
The officer in question was reportedly in charge of operations to ensure compliance with COVID-19 regulations at the time. He is currently released on a cash bail of Sh40,000 (about $260) pending arraignment on December 6.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns any act of violence against journalists and calls for a thorough and transparent investigation into the assault on Angela Muiruri. The assault on Muiruri and other women at the garden party is not just an attack on individuals; it's an attack on press freedom and women's rights. The use of excessive force by a senior officer is unacceptable and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We are troubled by the delay in the investigation and the initial lack of responsiveness from various police stations to Muiruri's complaints. This points to a systemic problem that needs to be addressed urgently. We urge the Internal Affairs Unit to ensure an impartial investigation and demand decisive action against anyone found guilty.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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