Police arrest 4 cops for allegedly robbing herder of Sh373,000

 

Four police officers were on Friday arrested after they allegedly robbed a herder of Sh373,000 in Kamkunji area, Nairobi.

William Tongoyo had ferried meat from Narok to Burma Market and sold it for the cash before walking back to the city centre to head back home.

According to the herder, while on Charles Rubia Road, heading to Nyamakima area, where he would take a public service vehicle back to Narok, he was stopped by three police officers.

The officers seemed to have prior information on what he was carrying- the cash.

The officers then handcuffed and informed him he was loitering in town aimlessly with an intention to commit a crime.

He protested the arrest fearing for his money that he had placed in his inner pants as he embarked on his trip home.

He had slaughtered his 12 cows and delivered the meat to Nairobi.

The victim told police he was taken through a lane he could not recall in the midday drama where the officers searched him.

One of the officers then grabbed the cash before they removed the handcuffs and told him to go.

The victim said he tried to follow the officers in vain as they disappeared into a crowd in the area.

Distraught, he walked to Kamkunji police station where he reported the matter narrating his ordeal.

He said he could identify the three officers who robbed him.

An an impromptu operation led by the Central Sub-county Police Commander Doris Kimeli and detectives from the DCI was conducted in the area.

This was after the matter was escalated to the senior officers.

The commanders demanded that all officers that were on patrol should report at the junction of River Road and Ronald Ngala Street around midday.

When the complainant was brought to see if he could identify any of the officers, he immediately identified one officer who was on patrol in the area.

The officer later identified two of his colleagues who were with him.

The three officers were disarmed and escorted to Kamukunji police station where a fourth officer turned up later and when Tongoyo saw him coming upstairs he also identified him.

All the four were searched and no significant money was recovered, Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said.

Their statements under inquiry were recorded and were later booked in the cells for offence of stealing pending further investigations.

Bungei said they will investigate the matter and take necessary action.

“This is not what we are. This is an isolated incident and will be acted on accordingly,” he said.

Police have in the past been accused of being involved in crime and some of the incidents are pending under probe.    BY THE STAR