A Nairobi-based boda boda activist is currently cooling his heels at the Industrial Area Police station after a botched attempt to fight for social justice.
From social media posts seen by kenyanbulletin.com, the guy identified as Derrick Mbugua was sent into remand in September 2021 after a vengeful police officer reportedly filed false charges against him.
It is said that Mbugua, who is a former matatu driver that grew to become a vocal political mobilizer within Kahawa Wendani, had attempted to record the cop when he found him treating a fellow bodaboda rider unjustly within the area.
But when he started filming, the angry man whom he thought to be just an ordinary motorist declared he was an officer of the law.
Still spirited in his fight, Mbugua boldly asked him to show his police ID since he was in civilian clothing.
What followed were heavy slaps and blows.
Before he knew it, he was lying helpless on the side of the road with his phone smashed to pieces.
With the help of good samaritans nearby, he fled and rushed to the Wendani Police Station to report the assault crime.
This is where things got even more interesting.
Instead of booking Mbugua’s assault report, officers at the station immediately threw him into the cells.
In what looked like a well-choreographed move, he was quickly labelled as a robbery suspect.
They accused him of stealing Sh750 from the motorist who had beaten him up.
The victim identified as Peter Ngare was also a police officer attached to Wendani Police Station.
On his charge sheet, all listed witnesses were members of the same police station.
Without any legal representation, Mbugua was then hit with an Sh500k cash bail which he has been unable to settle.
According to his acquaintances who highlighted his plight, he clocked his second month at Industrial Area this week.
They blame the vindictive officers from Kahawa Wendani for using the opportunity to strike back against the social activist who has been a constant painful thorn in the flesh for them.
Thanks to his acts of bravery which he often shares on his heavily followed Facebook page, Mbugua’s popularity within Wendani grew so large that he contested for the MCA seat in the last by-elections.
He however did not garner enough votes to grab the position.
His heavily pregnant wife is now said to be depending on well-wishers to survive.
Check out the full narration of Mbugua’s current predicament captured under this lengthy Facebook post below.
