Kabete killer cop had earlier been interdicted after losing his pistol

Benson Imbatu. [Courtesy]

Benson Imbatu, the Kabete police station officer accused of killing six people had been interdicted in 2017 after he lost his gun in unclear circumstances.

On April 4, 2017, Imbatu reported to his bosses at Kabete police station that he had been robbed of his gun while walking from his house in Mountain View.

Investigations into the disappearance of the gun, a Ceska pistol, were conducted by officers from the Flying Squad Unit, which has since been disbanded.

After the report of the missing firearm was made, officers from the unit were tasked with finding the missing gun. An inquiry file, number 8 of 2017, was opened under the command of John Njoroge. 

After weeks of investigations, on July 7, three suspects were gunned down in Nairobi's Dandora estate and the stolen firearm recovered.

Police at the time said that contrary to claims by Imbatu that he had been robbed of the gun, investigations had revealed that the gun could have been hired out to the criminals. The investigators wound up their investigations after the weapon was recovered.

This latest finding has further cast the spotlight on the life and times of the officer who on Monday shot dead six people in a night of terror in Kabete.

He also shot himself using the AK-47 rifle that had been issued to him at work. On Thursday, a brother of the slain officer recorded his statement with Kabete DCI officers. 

In his statement, the brother told investigators that Imbatu had formally introduced Caroline Asava to the family as his wife. Investigators have gathered that Imbatu could have killed Asava after he found her talking to another man.

A worker at the bar where Imbatu and Asava were on the night of the killing told investigators that the couple was not on talking terms after an incident that happened the previous Sunday.

A furious Imbatu is reported to have shot at a television set at the bar when he found Asava talking to another man. He also kicked and punched her.

The reveller who was found speaking to Asava was lucky to have escaped the wrath of Imbatu. This shooting incident was, however, not officially reported to the Kabete police station where Imbatu worked.

Police investigations have revealed that on the fateful night, Imbatu excused himself from the team of officers deployed to patrol Dagoretti area. At around 11pm, in the company of the police driver, Imbatu went to the bar and escorted Asava to their rented house.

He was then dropped back to the police station where he stayed until midnight when his commander allowed the officers to retire to bed and resume work the following morning.

Investigators say Imbatu did not immediately leave the station. It is at that point that he is believed to have gone to his house where he shot and killed Asava, then set the house alight.

After shooting Asava, Imbatu went on a shooting spree where he killed five other people before shooting himself with the Ak47 rifle.