Prayers for Muchai as murder suspects head to court

Kenya: Police are holding three “prime” suspects in connection with the killing of Kabete MP George Muchai and his three aides.

One suspect is this morning expected to face murder charges following the killings of Muchai, police constables Samuel Montata and Samuel Kairingia, and driver Stephen Wambugu at the Uhuru Highway-Kenyatta Avenue Roundabout on Saturday morning.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said the attack was committed by a gang that had earlier carjacked two women.

“So far, investigators have covered significant ground and made good progress,” said Mr Nkaissery.

Acting Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi and Criminal Investigations Director Ndegwa Muhoro were present when Nkaissery made the announcement. Mr Muhoro said the gang used a G3 rifle.

“We hope to get all the evidence required to get a conviction. We are doing well,” he said.

And detectives were yesterday looking for a fourth suspect and the guns used in the attack. They also want to recover the pistols and other valuables stolen from the slain victims.

Other police officers aware of the probe said when the suspect appears in court, police will seek permission to continue holding him as investigations continue.

WANTED CRIMINAL

The suspects, who are all male, were arrested in a police operation in Limuru, Kiambu County, on Wednesday. One was arrested earlier in the day while his accomplices were rounded up late at night. They are “co-operating well with the police”.

Among those being sought is a woman said to be hiding the guns used by the gang. Police revealed one of the gunmen was a wanted criminal and had been linked to other attacks in the area.

“Informers here know him well. He was wanted for the murder of, among others, an insurance executive in Wangige last year,” said an official aware of the probe.

Nairobi detectives continued to comb parts of Limuru for more information that could help them crack the case. The officers from the Flying Squad and DCI headquarters were pursuing more links to establish whether the gang that killed the four and robbed them of a briefcase and guns were hiding in the area.

This was after investigations indicated that the gang had abandoned a car they used in the attack at Ndeiya, 4km away from Kamandura, where they dropped off two women they had carjacked.

Police are relying on various preliminary leads including the results of the fingerprints-dusted vehicle used in the attack and ballistics results from the bullet heads recovered from the scene. Officials with information on the case believe the attackers were professionals.

For now, the officers involved are treating the killings as pure robbery with violence until they have information that proves otherwise.

Lone gunman

Muchai, his two bodyguards and driver were killed by a lone gunman at the Uhuru Highway-Kenyatta Avenue Roundabout at about 2.50am on Saturday.

A postmortem examination on Wednesday showed they died of excessive bleeding and all had bullet wounds in the chest and head.

They were robbed of two pistols loaded with 30 bullets and a briefcase whose contents are yet to be established. They were in a Toyota Fortuner when another car bumped theirs and stopped ahead of them, blocking the way before a hooded gunman jumped out and opened fire.

Police investigations show the four were killed by gunman who had earlier, with others, carjacked and robbed two female motorists driving a Toyota Spacio in Gachie.

The two were bundled into the boot as the thugs drove around before abandoning them in Kamandura near Limuru. The women reported the matter at Tigoni Police Station.

Muchai will be buried at his Kamulu home today.