Four police officers who robbed trader suspended

By Standard Reporter

Nakuru, Kenya: Four flying squad officers accused of robbing a businesswoman of money and arresting her in mysterious circumstance have been interdicted.

Nakuru OCPD Bernard Kioko said officers Cpl Kazungu Ngumbao (67972), police constables Nicholas Kirongo (63134), Yagan Kipsang (77273) and James Rotich (59608) have been interdicted.

“The officers have been interdicted with effect from today as we continue with inquiry on the matter,” Kioko said.

He said a further inquiry shall be undertaken on the serious allegations raised about the officers in an initial one conducted by Division Criminal Investigation Officer, which recommended the four to be charged.

“They will be on suspension pending the outcome of a serious inquiry of robbery with violence and unlawful confinement,” said the OCPD.

Robbery with violence

The inquiry had recommended that the four officers be charged with two counts of robbery with violence and unlawful confinement after they arrested Christine Mwiti,  who lost Sh400,000 in the process.

The four officers accosted Mwiti who operates a wines and spirits outlet in South and North Rift on March 2 at around 10.30pm shortly after she closed her business at Section 58 in the full view of the public and bundled her in their saloon vehicle despite pleading with them to be allowed to pick her money.

“The officers whose main duty is to maintain law and order, safeguard life and property deliberately, intentionally and unlawfully robbed the woman Sh400,000 as she wailed and cried helplessly. This office recommends that the flying squad officers involved be charged with the following offences; robbery with violence contrary to section 295 as read with 296(2) of the penal code and unlawful confinement contrary to section 263 of the penal code,” reads part of the report.

The report, which had been forwarded to Director of Criminal Investigations, showed that despite the woman pleading with the officers to be allowed to pick her money, they bundled her in their vehicle and drove off but left two of their colleagues in the complainant’s vehicle.

Investigation shows that the flying squad officers who had been deployed to Kiamunyi area had gone to  Section 58 where they lay in wait for the businesswoman for two hours before pouncing on her.