Radio47 superfan Kevo wa Duka has narrated how he was mistakenly arrested for ‘loitering outside a brothel’ at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Billy Miya during a hilarious interview on Maskani47’s ‘Hii Si ya Kusahau’ segment, Kevo described how he was unceremoniously escorted to Kamukunji Police Station.
Kevo explained that he was working for a bus company at the city’s popular terminus – Country Bus – when he decided to accompany a friend to pick up a parcel at around 10pm.
“Ilikuwa mwendo wa saa nne usiku ambapo rafiki yangu aliomba nimsindikize akachukue vitu alafu turudi niabiri gari nirudi niabiri gari kwenda Githurai 45 nilikokuwa naishi. Hivyo basi tukatokea sehemu ya juu pale Kamukunji ambapo kuna magari yanayosafiri sehemu za Ukambani,” said Kevo.
He said that while they wandered through the alleyways, they came across a group of prostitutes.
Kevo said his friend chose to seek their services and was subsequently spotted by police officers conducting patrols in the area.
“Pale, kulikuwa na wanawake walikuwa katika biashara ya ukahaba. Katika jumba mkabala na sehemu walikosimama hao wanawake, kulikuwa na askari ambao walikuwa wameketi. Rafiki yangu akaenda kuzungumza na mmoja wa wale makahaba,” said Kevo.
Kevo narrated that he left his friend to his own devices with the prostitute but decided to hang around while he waited for a matatu to take him to Githurai 45.
“Kuona vile, nikamwambia narudi kuabiri gari kwenda kwangu Githurai,” he added.
As he lingered in the area, a police officer seized the opportunity to question him, suspecting him of soliciting the services of sex workers, despite the prevailing Covid-19 situation.
“Wakati nazurura, nikashtukia mtu ananiguza kwa mgongo. Kugeuka ni askari. Kumwuliza kuna shida gani – ikikumbukwa ilikuwa ni wakati wa Covid-19, akanifunga pingu na kunikalisha chini kwa verandah. Kuulizia makosa yangu akaniambia, ‘wewe ulikuwa umeenda huko juu kwa room kufanya nini? Watu wanatafuta pesa za kufanya kazi wewe uko na hela kununua ulichonunua’. Nikamwambia, ‘hapana, nimesindikizana tu, na, niliyemsindikiza yuko huko juu’. Hakuamini. Hivyo basi nikapelekwa Kamukunji [police station],” narrated Kevo.
But as fate would have it, the station’s police boss, who was exiting the premises, noticed Kevo and other suspects who were rounded up during the night and inquired about the nature of their arrest.
Upon finding that the charges lacked merit, the police boss ordered their release.
“Tulikuwa watu wengi. Tuliingia na kukaa karibu dakika ishirini hivi tukingoja tuwekwe rumande. Muda si mchache, mkubwa wao akashuka kwa ghorofa akibeba vitu. Nafikiri alikuwa anaenda nyumbani. Akatuuliza tulichokifanya, tukamwambia hakuna… tukaachiliwa,” said Kevo.
Kevo went on to categorically deny having ever solicited the services of prostitutes, highlighting that the experience of being misidentified is permanently etched in his memory.
