Politicians who have been caught on camera slapping citizens
In the political arena, where words are traditionally revered as the primary tools of persuasion, a handful of leaders have diverged from the conventional path, taking a more physical approach.
Captured by the unblinking eye of the camera, these incidents of politicians slapping citizens have sparked outrage, debate, and a flurry of media attention.
From the corridors of power to the streets where the common man roams, these striking moments serve as a jarring reminder of the fine line between authority and aggression.
Here are the politicians who have been caught slapping people:
Peter Salasya
Barely two weeks ago, footage capturing Peter Salasya, the MP of Mumias East, in a physical altercation with MCA Peter Walunya Indimuli at a funeral service went viral.
As detailed in official police statements, the incident unfolded when Indimuli welcomed Salasya to the attendees at the memorial service for Dr Harrison Kodia’s spouse.
He implored the MP to deliver his speech with sensitivity to the mourning family. Salasya purportedly responded arrogantly, sparking unrest among the gathered crowd.
The tension quickly intensified, leading to a confrontation where Salasya is said to have engaged in physical aggression towards Indimuli, involving a series of punches and slaps.
Evans Kidero
In 2013, an incident involving the then-Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and the former Nairobi Woman Representative Rachel Shebesh was caught on camera.
The confrontation occurred when Ms Shebesh entered Governor Kidero’s office, insisting that he address the concerns of Nairobi County workers who were on strike, with some facing interdiction.
The altercation escalated outside the governor’s office, culminating in a moment where Dr Kidero was seen slapping Shebesh, as captured in the video footage.
Subsequently, a legal battle ensued, and in 2021, Shebesh disclosed that she had received a settlement to the tune of Sh30 million from Dr Kidero as compensation for the incident.
During an interview, Ms Shebesh shared details about reaching an out-of-court settlement with Dr Kidero, wherein he agreed to compensate her with a substantial sum of money.
“Dr Kidero paid so much money that he won’t repeat the mistake. I didn’t come out of it empty-handed. To slap a woman in this country nowadays, there is a precedent and I don’t know whether people have the money to pay as compensation. He paid almost Sh30 million,” she said.
Nimrod Mbai
Last year, a video surfaced showing Kitui East Member of Parliament Nimrod Mbai in a heated altercation with a Kenya Power engineer. The incident reportedly took place at the MP’s residence in Kitengela, Kajiado County, where the engineer was attempting to disconnect what was believed to be an unauthorised power connection.
In the footage, Mr Mbai was seen and heard using offensive language towards the Kenya Power staff and was also observed slapping one of the employees multiple times. Furthermore, during the confrontation, he appeared to make a move to retrieve his firearm, escalating the tension of the situation.
Despite the contents of the video, when Mr Mbai was questioned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) regarding the altercation, he firmly denied any physical assault on the Kenya Power employee.
He refuted the claims by stating, “No, I never assaulted anyone. Did you see me? I am a pastor and did not do that,” and suggested that the video that had circulated was doctored.