![I Want His Details- Ruto Vows Action On Cop Captured Shooting Journalists [VIDEO]](https://i0.wp.com/bouncenationkenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/I-Want-His-Details-Ruto-Vows-Action-On-Cop-Captured.jpg?fit=870%2C580&ssl=1 "I Want His Details- Ruto Vows Action On Cop Captured")
He promised that action would be taken against the cop in case he is found guilty of having perpetrated the heinous acts of brutality.
President William Ruto on Friday, July 5 promised that stern action will be taken against a police officer who was captured in plain clothes in a viral video firing at a group of journalists in close range during peaceful protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
Speaking during a live X (Twitter) spaces conversation dubbed #EngageThePresident on Friday, July 5, the Head of State appealed to participating Kenyans to forward the exact details of the officer to the nearest security office.
He promised that action would be taken against the cop in case he is found guilty of having perpetrated the heinous acts of brutality.
A plain cloth officer who was captured firing at journalists at close range during the protests. /MARVIN CHEGE.X
“The police officer who is roaming, I want the exact details of him, I will apprehend him and he will be dealt with per the law,” President Ruto directed.
The officer was captured in the clip that rapidly circulated on social media overseeing the arrest of protesters.
As the detainees were loaded onto a police car, the officer was seen trying to open one of the car doors before he pointed his teargas canister and fired at one of the journalists deployed to cover the protests, the impact sparking immediate chaos.
Screams and panic ensued as the officer nonchalantly returned to the vehicle and drove away.
The clip sparked uproar with even Kenyan celebrities calling out the police for blatantly disregarding civilian safety, many calling for not just accountability and justice but also better conduct from the police.
“Seriously, what nonsense is this?! And no it doesn’t matter whether they were blanks or live bullets – how does one pull a trigger so casually against his fellow countrymen?!
“What happened to utumishi kwa wote? Did not the police seek to reform to a service and not a force?! Now even children?! LORD HAVE MERCY ON THIS LAND!!” Joyce Omondi wrote on her Instagram page.
Whereas one angle of the video was shared widely towards the tail-end of June, Viral Tea learnt that the clip was taken on Tuesday, June 18, on the first day of the anti-Finance Bill protests.
Marvin Chege, our editor-in-chief, had learnt that the cop had assaulted Dominic Mutembei, a freelance journalist who was covering the protests.
Unconfirmed reports believed that this was the same officer captured in a viral video opening fire on Rex Kanyike Masai, who succumbed to the gunshot wounds.
Here is the video:
On the matter of plain clothes police:
On Tuesday, this cop was filmed by @LeonLidigu assaulting Dominic Mutembei, a freelance journalist covering the #RejectFinanceBlll2024 protests
Observe as he points the teargas canister to his tummy, hurting him.
(WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/uwGQdu0ziP
— Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) June 21, 2024
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) on June 18 condemned the alleged arbitrary arrests and attacks on journalists covering Tuesday protests in Nairobi’s Central Business district by armed police officers.
Expressing dismay over the incidents, MCK highlighted that journalists, who were equipped with MCK press badges and press jackets for identification, were subjected to harassment, manhandling, arrests, and assaults by security forces.
In response to these incidents, MCK called upon the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action to ensure the protection of journalists and to prevent further harassment in any work environment.