Ruth Nyambura Mbagara, the mother of Ian Njoroge the man in the viral video assaulting a traffic police officer has spoken.

The mother has defended her son’s actions saying the police officer demanded KSh 10,000 bribe from him.

She said he was rushing home to return her car and take his siblings to church as he has always done as a firstborn son.

This was why he made an illegal U-turn that got him in trouble with the traffic officer.

Ruth said her son could not afford the amount of bribe as he was still a university student.

“I was surprised because I have brought my son in a Christian way. He is a boy who has gone to good schools, has grown with manners, is God-fearing, obedient, very polite at home…I have never seen him agitated. Something must have happened to that boy,”

“I asked him why, and he told me he wanted to bring the car back home before the time for going to church, and on his way he met the policeman. It’s true he made a U-turn, the policeman said he wanted KSh.10,000, and he told him he couldn’t raise that because he’s a student and that was his mother’s car. He told him he could raise KSh.5,000, but the policeman refused.” the mother is quoted by the Standard.

The mother apologised for her son’s action and said she was hurt seeing him trend negatively.

“I’m speaking as a mother who has been hurting because of seeing how the boy has trended negatively. I want to apologise, first of all, and say what he did was not right; he was not supposed to beat that man, I already told him that was wrong,” she added.

Njoroge was arrested hours after the incident that caused outrage on social media.

Police pounced on Njoroge at his house in Jacaranda, Kayole.

In the viral video of the assault, Njoroge wearing a red Lakers basketball jersey, jeans and trainers is seen kicking the police officer.

The motorist who beat up and injured a traffic police officer during a traffic stop in Mirema, Nairobi on Sunday, June 2 has been arrested.

Ian Njoroge was arrested hours after the incident that caused outrage on social media.

Police pounced on Njoroge at his house in Jacaranda, Kayole.

In the viral video of the assault, Njoroge wearing a red Lakers basketball jersey, jeans and trainers is seen kicking the police officer.

The assailant then escapes after seeing a white vehicle coming to the rescue of the traffic cop.

In a police report filed at Kasarani police station, Njoroge had brandished a sword when he was stopped by the traffic police officer.

“A police officer was on duty along Kamiti Road at Mirema Junction controlling traffic, the officer spotted a motor vehicle which was making a U-turn on the road obstructing other road users,”

“When he approached the said motor vehicle, the driver hit the road kerb and got stuck.” the police report read.

During his arrest in Kayole, Njoroge confessed to beating up the officer and said it was due to anger.

“It was my first time to beat a police officer I was angry after he asked me for a lot of money,” Njoroge said during an interrogation.

According to Sammy Ondimu a police officer, the traffic cop assaulted by Njoroge has been sick for a while as he is diabetic.

“Huyu officer alipiga is diabetic with a very big wound on the leg, he’s very weak. Someone might mistaken him for being drunk,”

“I worked with Jacob Ogendo pale KICC. He is a very humble officer. Quick recovery brother,”

“Now I sleep comfortably knowing the guy ako cell waiting kwenda kotini. Good job officers.. Huyu atakuwa example kwa wengine wenye mazoea kama yake.” Ondimu said.

The traffic police officer was taken to Crestview Mother and Child Wellness Centre Kasarani for medical attention and was referred to Mama Lucy for further treatment.