#ReleaseNjeri: Uproar after woman arrested for filming police harassing passenger

Kenyans have taken to social media to demand the release of a woman who was arrested for filming traffic police officers who were harassing a female passenger in Nairobi.

In the video captured by Njeri wa Muthoni, three female traffic officers in full uniform are seen forcefully dragging a woman out of the front seat of a matatu supposedly plying the Kasarani –Nairobi CBD route while three other male officers look on.

Taking to Facebook on Tuesday morning, Njeri posted the 1:40-minute recording saying it had led to her arrest and that she was being taken to Kasarani Police Station.

Her plight led to the trending hashtag topic #ReleaseNjeri on Twitter with thousands of Kenyans online urging the National Police Service to intervene and secure her release.

The public, while condemning the officers for intimidating citizens, further agitated for their arrest and subsequent prosecution.

Njeri Wa Muthoni, The lady who recorded the police assaulting another lady, has been arrested and is being held at Kasarani Police station. #ReleaseNjeri
pic.twitter.com/f429Y8DF21

— BRAVIN™ (@ItsBravin) February 5, 2019

Njeri at Kasarani Police station.@NPSOfficial_KE want to charge her with incitement. @PoliceKE way of silencing Kenyans from recording rogue Officers.
@ODPP_KE#ReleaseNjeri pic.twitter.com/dCMJn8ZfvX

— #BuyerBeware (@JacksonNjeru254) February 5, 2019

If anything happens to Njeri, the lady who recorded cops harrassing a matatu, we will petition @IPOA_KE and @NPSOfficial_KE to hold the identified cops and Kasarani OCS accountable. #ReleaseNjeri @Ma3Route @thekhrc @NelsonHavi

— Private Developer™ (@LLBandLLM) February 5, 2019

After recording a Video of a Police officer insulting, she has been arrested. Why treat locals like they have no freedom. The lady recording this incident has just been arrested by the Kasarani Traffic officers.#ReleaseNjeri pic.twitter.com/HFfToaVnU4

— Tuache Mihadarati (@BettKMax) February 5, 2019

It is high time we condemned impunity and rogue police officers within the country.#ReleaseNjeri pic.twitter.com/lecUSTmux2

— Persona Non Granta (@felixnderie) February 5, 2019

This just ain't Right. Assaulting a citizen just cause of the uniform????
Then arresting someone for capturing that.
I mean c'mon #ReleaseNjeri pic.twitter.com/N2UVHNpgVg

— Dan (@DanWaweru_) February 5, 2019

Njeri Wa Muthoni was protecting the values of the Constitution by recording ROGUE Traffic Officers who were harassing a Lady. Sadly she ended being arrested by the same ROGUE Traffic Cops because of recording their inhuman acts. @DCI_Kenya @NPSOfficial_KE @ODPP_KE #ReleaseNjeri pic.twitter.com/JO46IEsFnV

— Kijana Wa Facts™ (Steve Chege Jr) (@KijanaWaFacts) February 5, 2019

This is why nobody trusts the police. They can't execute their work with dignity and resort to intimidation of the public who call them out. #ReleaseNjeri @NPSOfficial_KE https://t.co/O7Cnyw7hmF

— Kamau Mwangi (@Kamau_Mwangi1) February 5, 2019

07:32 The lady recording this incident has just been arrested by the Kasarani Traffic officers. @NPSOfficial_KE @ODPP_KE
New way to scare public so that they can't record abuse.#ReleaseNjeri pic.twitter.com/xG6cuAOm4e via @JacksonNjeru254

— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) February 5, 2019