IPOA probes Sh72m heist suspect’s killing

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has opened investigations into the shooting of Wycliffe Odour, the alleged mastermind of last year’s Sh72 million bank heist.

IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori in a statement, said the agency would among other issues probe use of excessive force by the police. Odour was shot dead last Wednesday at Kayole junction by police officers in civilian clothes.

DCI on Twitter said Odour, who was out on a Sh500,000 bond was together with two other men robbing residents when they were ambushed by the police.

“Investigations revealed the suspects are linked to several breakings into godowns, stores and shops along Eastern bypass and the industrial area.

Wanted criminals

It has also been established that the suspects are wanted criminals in a robbery with violence case and have been on the run since August 2018,” he said.

On Thursday, lawyer Cliff Ombeta contradicted Kinoti’s version of events and said Odour was executed by the police.

Ombeta posted a photo of what he claims to have been the final moments of Odour in the hands of the police.

In the video clip that has since gone viral, two armed men in civilian clothes are seen pushing a man in a street.

A third man also in civilian clothes joins in and pushes the man further down the street.

At that point a gunshot is heard and the man who was being pushed down the road breathes his last.

Odour was first unmasked last September in investigations that followed the Nairobi West ATM cash theft. This was after DCI officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit now (Special Service Unit) tracked him to his rural home where he was found in possession of wads of crispy notes said to have been part of the stolen cash.