How police discovered Katani women killers, recovered guns

Machakos Police County Commander Karanja Muiruri, holds two AK47 rifles that were recovered by the police shortly after a gunman was shot dead at Katani area in Athi River, Machakos county yesterday. Two other suspects were arrested. [Peter Githaiga, Standard]

A General Service Unit (GSU) officer linked to last weekend’s killing of two women in Katani, Machakos County, has been arrested.

The officer was arrested yesterday at a city hospital where he had gone to seek treatment for a gunshot wound.

The police now say the injured officer may be involved in a series of crimes, including the killing and robbery incident that happened at the Wilson Airport on July 28, 2019.

The GSU officer has been linked to the killing of a 60-year-old woman and her 35-year-old daughter-in-law on Saturday in Katani.

Ann Katita was opening the gate for her son Fredrick Mwangi, who was arriving home from work in the company of his wife Purity Wanjiru, when two gangsters riding on a motorbike struck. Mr Mwangi told the police that during the attack, he tried to wrest a gun from a gangster who shot and killed his mother and wife.

In the process, the gunman accidentally shot his accomplice, who is believed to be the GSU officer. Mwangi also sustained a gunshot wound on the leg.

The police have since learnt the killers were on hire and were paid Sh2 million for the mission.

The shooting was reportedly meant to send a warning to Mwangi over a business deal gone sour.

The police were yesterday hunting the said masterminds of the killings.

Yesterday, a prime suspect who pulled the trigger that killed Katita and Wanjiru was shot dead in a house in Katani during a police ambush. Two AK 47 rifles were recovered from the suspect.

The weapons are believed to belong to slain GSU officer Stephene Mukangi and his colleague. Mukangi was killed during an attack at the Wilson Airport, Nairobi, in July, while on duty. The two officers were robbed of their weapons.

The police say the injured GSU officer, who is currently being held as a suspect, was arrested when he went to seek medical attention. He cooperated and led the police to a hideout where one gangster was shot dead.

Head of operations at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters Danson Diru said the officers recovered several hoods as well as masks used by criminals to cover their faces.

The team of detectives from Special Crimes Prevention Unit was yesterday pursuing another police officer linked to recent killings.

The police had raised concerns over a series of incidents involving AK 47 rifles in the area. Such rifles are usually used by security agencies.

Ballistic tests that were conducted is what led officers to the GSU officer and subsequent shooting dead of the prime suspect.

In the Katani incident, the gunmen grabbed Wanjiru’s purse and escaped on a motorbike.

Hit squad

“We have since learnt it was a hit squad. We are following more leads,” said another officer aware of the incident.

The area residents had complained of increasing gang attacks and called for action from authorities.

This is the latest incident in which the police are being linked to the crime. Most officers caught in criminal incidents have been dismissed from the service.

Police authorities, however, say the cases are isolated and should not be used to cast aspersions on the entire service.