Likoni Channel: KDF soldiers assault police officers

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel clashed with Kenya Police officers at the Likoni channel in Mombasa on Saturday.

A video obtained by the Star shows a KDF officer striking a Kenya Ferry Service guard before turning his aggression towards a Kenya Police officer who attempted to intervene, surrounded by armed colleagues.

As the altercation unfolds, a bystander questions the KDF officers' actions, highlighting their shared profession: "Ni nini? Mbona mnatufayia hivo? Sote tuko kazi moja mbona mnatufanyai hivi?"

Following the incident, two police officers reportedly sustained injuries.

The KDF officers involved were en route to the Mtongwe Navy base at the time of the altercation.

In response to the viral video, the KDF released a statement confirming the commencement of investigations into the incident. "To establish the circumstances leading to the incident, Military Police and requisite investigation agencies are currently handling the matter. The incident is highly regrettable. As KDF personnel, we are beholden to the core value of professionalism," the statement read.

This marks the second such incident in less than a month involving KDF officers and police.

Recently, police at Lodwar Police Station apprehended KDF soldiers accused of assaulting and disarming a colleague at a roadblock. The incident, allegedly prompted by a delay in removing spikes from the road, occurred around 11 am.

While the police report suggested aggression from the KDF soldiers, the KDF refuted the claims, asserting that their soldiers did not assault police officers or "storm" the station.

The KDF expressed concern over the incident's impact on multi-agency collaboration and emphasized ongoing joint investigations by relevant authorities.