The Kenya Defence Forces has disputed accusations that some of its personnel were involved in a fight with police officers in Lodwar and instead accused the police of embarrassing and humiliating them.
KDF issued a statement denying the videos and images documenting the event, stating that they were merely intended to "embarrass, humiliate, and create alarm."
“Our attention has been drawn to videos, photos, and texts circulating on both mainstream and social media on the arrest of KDF soldiers at a Lodwar Police station yesterday, Wednesday 17 April 2024. The orchestration of the detainment is demeaning in context, intended to embarrass, humiliate, and to create alarm,” reads the statement.
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“The incident, though localized and occurring at a tactical level, is of great concern to the entire KDF fraternity. It also degrades the complementary spirit in Multi-Agency environments and operations.
KDF went on to disregard a police complaint alleging that the officers attacked a police officer at a roadblock and stormed Lodwar Police Station, where the troops engaged in the incident were held.
“Notably, it has so far been established that; KDF soldiers neither, "assaulted" police officers nor, "stormed" the station as alleged,” added KDF.
“Joint investigations by the relevant competent authorities to further establish facts on this unfortunate incident are ongoing and the outcome will inform next course of action,” the military added in the statement.
In the now-viral video, four KDF policemen are seated on the ground at Lodwar Police Station as a senior officer lectures them about their actions.
“You are shooting in the air? Is that how you guys are taught, sincerely speaking?” Turkana Central Sub-County Police Commander Samwel Boit is heard questioning the KDF soldiers in the video.
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