Ghanaian businessman hospitalized after Nairobi police beat him

A foreigner is accusing police officers in Nairobi of illegally apprehending and beating him up just because he is not Kenyan.Shem Grant, a Ghanaian businessman, says he was assaulted by the officers at his rented office in Parklands last month.He said his landlord, a senior government official, sent the officers to the premises on claims he defaulted on the Sh120,000 rent.Grant told the Star at his hospital bed that the official sent his son who they did account and found that he had no arrears except for December and January.He filed a case at the rent tribunal which gave an order that his property should not be auctioned until the case is heard and determined.Grant went on to add that the unnamed official later sent auctioneers together with police officers who ambushed him while having a meeting and started taking away his belongings.“I tried to inquire why I was being auctioned but I was never given a chance. The officers arrested me without any offence and locked me up at Kilimani police station.”Grant added that he was escorted to Nairobi women's hospital where he was admitted for 17 days under tight security.According to medical documents, the businessman sustained injuries on his spinal cord, eyes, shoulder, and ribs.Grant said he has written to IPOA and to the Ombudsman in an attempt to get justice after attempts to report the assault case proved futile as police are not willing to write a statement or give him the mandatory p3 form.“I am just a harmless businessman who has been here for 6 years and I don’t understand why the police do not want to help me in getting justice,” he said.