A 38-year-old truck driver with a transport company based in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa is accusing his former managers of tying him up, putting a tyre on him and setting him on fire in a brutal act of torture.
Isaac Njoroge was allegedly subjected to the torture after he was accused of stealing cargo — aluminium coils worth millions of shillings — and has been charged with the offence.
Njoroge said the managers beat him up before burning him at the company premises.
In a video captured secretly by one of his colleagues, and uploaded by one of Kenya’s leading newspaper, The Daily Nation, Njoroge was seen tied with ropes and a tyre around his waist as the managers interrogated him.
Mr Njoroge said two months after his ordeal, the police were yet to take action against his attackers or record statements from witnesses. According to Mr Njoroge, the case was reported at Mariakani police station.
One of the managers was heard talking to someone, supposedly his boss, after which he told the rest of the crew: “He has told us to burn him.”
Another manager was also heard asking: “Where will he get KES 2 million?”
Njoroge, who denied stealing the goods, said he was rescued by his colleagues.
Mariakani OCPD Patrick Ngeiwa said police were still investigating the incident with some witnesses having recorded statements.
After the incident, during which he suffered serious burns on his back, Mr Njoroge said he was not taken to hospital but to a police station.
In another recording after he was burnt, some workers are heard protesting over the action, but one of the managers tells them off, saying they would “not do anything”.
