A Dutch national, Elwin Ter Horst, is set to be deported from Kenya after a dramatic altercation with police officers at the Diani Police Station in Kwale County — an incident that has stirred outrage after footage of him spitting and shouting at uniformed officers went viral online.
The video, which has since been widely circulated on social media, shows a visibly agitated Horst — shirtless and disheveled — hurling insults, spitting, and “hawking saliva and mucus” at police officers inside the report office. The officers, maintaining restraint, can be seen trying to calm him down amid his tirade.
According to a police report, Horst had been arrested on Tuesday evening following a violent domestic incident at a beach hotel in Diani, where he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, damaged property, and caused a disturbance. Officers responding to the distress call found that hotel security had already rescued the woman and rushed her to hospital with visible injuries.
Police later discovered that the Dutchman had barricaded himself inside the hotel room, damaging furniture and walls before eventually surrendering after a tense standoff. Upon his arrest, officers reportedly recovered a whitish substance suspected to be narcotic drugs.
At the Diani Police Station, Horst’s erratic behavior continued. CCTV footage captured him spitting at officers, leading to public outrage once the clip surfaced online.
Kwale County police later confirmed that Horst’s passport had expired, meaning he was residing in the country illegally. Consequently, the authorities initiated deportation proceedings in addition to the criminal charges he faces for assault, malicious damage to property, creating a disturbance, and possession of narcotics.
“Foreign nationals who violate Kenyan laws will face firm legal consequences,” warned Msambweni Police Commander Robinson Langat, who condemned the incident as both “unacceptable and disrespectful to Kenyan law enforcement.”
Appearing remorseful after his outburst, Horst issued a public apology, claiming he had been under severe stress and suffering from a mental breakdown.
“I had a psychosis; I need my medicine. I did not have water and food for a long time,” he said, identifying himself oddly as “Mufasa.”
Despite his plea for leniency and desire to remain in Kenya, police on Wednesday escorted him to the Kwale Law Courts to face charges before proceeding with his deportation process.
The disturbing episode has reignited conversations about the conduct of foreign nationals in Kenya’s coastal tourist hubs, where cases of drug abuse, assault, and public disorder involving expatriates have been on the rise.
Authorities have reiterated that while Kenya remains a welcoming destination for visitors, respect for local laws and law enforcement is non-negotiable.
“Our hospitality should never be mistaken for weakness,” a senior coastal officer said. “Those who break the law — local or foreign — will face the full force of justice.”
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