Trevor Mathenge, a student at Multimedia University, is recovering from injuries sustained during a brutal encounter with police officers. He narrowly escaped death, which he claims was a deliberate attempt on his life.
Eight students have come forward to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to share their experiences of police brutality during a student strike earlier this week, as investigations are underway.
A viral video captured the moment four police officers assaulted Trevor, beating him while he lay on the ground, their shouts of “death” echoing through the air. Trevor, in tears, pleaded for mercy, repeatedly telling the officers, "Afande, mimi sina makosa" (Officer, I’ve done nothing wrong).
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The officers mocked Trevor, ordering him to get up and “go die elsewhere,” saying, "Amka, enda kufa huko!" Desperate to survive, Trevor begged for his life, but the threats continued. One officer, in police combat gear, grabbed Trevor’s private parts and dragged him across the floor, telling him, “Go die over there!”
Unable to stand due to the repeated blows, another officer stepped in to stop the assault. In the video, one officer is seen pulling out a teargas canister, with his colleague urging him to stop, saying, "Wachana na yeye" (Leave him alone). The officer reluctantly agreed but left Trevor with a chilling remark, "Ni sawa, namwacha lakini nawacha yeye na dawa" (Alright, I’m leaving him, but I’m leaving him with medicine), referring to the teargas canister.
In a miraculous twist, Trevor dodged the canister moments before it exploded. As he tried to escape, the officers continued their threats, attempting to push him toward the explosive. One voice can be heard saying, "Kufa huko... kula vumbi" (Die over there... eat dust).
"When I told them my leg was broken, they kept kicking me. One officer even said, ‘Let’s kill him since he can’t get up,’ but another officer in green intervened, saying, ‘We can’t leave him like this.’ When I dodged the teargas, another officer asked, ‘Why are you dodging? We will beat you,’” Trevor recounted.
Aside from the officers captured on video, witnesses also claim that one officer, seen firing a teargas canister at onlookers, was responsible for starting a fire in one of the hostels.
As Trevor continues his recovery at Rongai Orthopaedic Medical Center, eight other victims of police brutality have recorded their statements with IPOA.
