Suspects accused of hijacking, robbing medic to remain in custody

Suspects Duncan Wambua Kimeu, Dennis Ndolo Mutunga, Wambua Kinyili Mutunga and Charles Mutinda Margaret before Kangundo Law Courts on January 15, 2024. [Lilian Mutavi, Standard]

Four suspects accused of hijacking, kidnapping and robbing a retired senior government officer in Machakos will be remanded for another week before hearing of bail or bond application.

Titus Kilika a former Chief Physiotherapist was hijacked and kidnapped and upon reporting at Kangundo police station, he started receiving threatening calls.

The four suspects, Duncan Wambua Kimeu, Dennis Ndolo Mutunga, Wambua Kinyili Mutunga and Charles Mutinda Margaret appeared before Principal Magistrate Sammy Opande at Kangundo Law Courts.

Mr Kilika had been using the first accused Duncan Kimeu’s taxi for over 10 years to run his errands and some of the cash stolen amounting to over Sh1.5 million was part of proceeds from his retirement benefits.

On May 2, 2024 a day after the complainant reported the incident at Kangundo Police Station, Kimeu allegedly called him twice threatening him to drop the case.

“On May 2, 2024  the same number called 254720030291 which belonged to the first accused Mr Kimeu and spoke for 1 minute 1 second at around 12.28 pm  and on the same day at 3.23 pm he called and again and spoke for 24minutes.” said DCI  Snr Sergeant Fredrick Maina.

The four suspects were arrested recently after being on the run and have been accused that on April 29, 2024 at Kambai junction along Kangundo Mwala road in Kangundo subcounty within Machakos county jointly with others not before the court robbed Kilika of a Samsung mobile phone, National ID card, NHIF Card, medical practising card, ATM cards of Equity, Family, Sidian and Shirika link Banks and Sh1,503,111.

Kimeu is also accused of giving false information that on May 1, 2024 at Kangundo police station where he informed a police officer identified as Corporal Patrick that on May 29, 2024 that he was robbed cash of Sh4200, his mobile phone valued at Sh15,000 national ID, NHIF card and other valuables information he knew or believed to be false, intending thereby to divert attention from his involvement in robbery which he ought not to have done.

The suspects had already spent 21 days at the Machakos GK prison before appearing at the Kangundo Law Courts on Wednesday and were set to know their fate on bond hearing on Wednesday pending their case.

Maina told the Kangundo court that the suspects made threatening phone calls to.Kilika intimidating him to drop the case on diverse dates.

Maina told court that on September 17, 2024 he sent a request to Airtel liaison officer to help identify the owner of the line used to threaten the victim.

He said the investigation revealed that on several other occasions, the first and second accused, Kimeu and Mutunga had allegedly been calling and also using SMS to threaten the victim through their phones on various occasions.

He added that the first accused Kimeu has other pending criminal charges at Machakos Police Station in connection with theft of a vehicle in 2011.

The second accused Mutunga has also other pending criminal charges in Masii Police station of robbery with violence whereas in 2006 he was accused of defilement and theft.

Maina added the third accused Munyalo and Mutinda alias Bazuu had no previous criminal records.

The Magistrate set the hearing date for bond or bail determination on January 20, 2025 and the case to start the next day.

Earlier, the prosecutor had asked the court to deny the suspect’s bond however they were awarded Sh5 million bond which they argued was high.

“Futher investigations are ongoing on the second accused person namely Dennis Ndolo Mutunga is believed to be among a gang member involved in carjackings, kidnapping and robberies in Western Kenya and also has other cases of robbery been reported in Masii and Machakos police station  some of this cases are yet to begin,” said the prosecutor.

Previously, State Counsel Vivian Nyangena said that the suspects should not be given cash bail as they are at flight risk for it took months to be trace and arrest them.