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Kenyan deports Congolese musician after assault

Xinhua, July 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenyan authorities on Saturday deported Congolese musician Koffi Olomide following his arrest on Friday night for allegedly assaulting one of his female dancers in Nairobi.

Olomide, who has in the past been accused of other assault cases, was filmed on Friday attacking one of his female dancers at the airport after arrival in Nairobi, an incident that lead to his arrest after a live interview at one of the local media stations.

The rhumba maestro was later arrested outside Royal Media Services offices and taken to police custody where he spent the night in police cells.

The 60-year-old musician had just been interviewed before police pounced on him and his dancers after a directive from the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet. He was due to perform in Nairobi on Saturday night.

But during the interview, the Congolese musician denied assaulting the dancer, identified as Pamela. He said he was protecting her from a pick pocketing incidence at the airport.

The Congolese artist has reportedly in the past been accused of rape and physical assault and even banned from performing in France following the allegations.

In 2012, Olomide was given a three-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his producer, Diego Lubaki, in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

Youth and Gender Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki on Friday said the musician should be deported and his visa permanently revoked.

The rhumba maestro later apologized to his fans and women over the incident.

"I watched the video with a lot of distress where it seems that I was assaulting one of my dancers. On the contrary, I was defending my dancers from a lady who was threatening them at the airport," he said. He also reiterated his respect for people, especially women.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has said that police are investigating past assault cases facing the deported Congolese musician, hinting that Olomide might be permanently banned from Kenya.

"If someone breaks the law, then justice must be served. He was arrested yesterday (Friday) and we made sure that today (Saturday), he was deported. He is already on a plane together with other artists that had accompanied him," said Nkaissery. Endit