Matatu driver charged with violent robbery of police officer
By Richard MungutiA matatu driver, Edwin Thairu Njoroge, has been arraigned in court for allegedly violently robbing a police officer of his communication gadget, which is used by law enforcement to coordinate efforts and track criminals.
Armed with an iron rod, classified as a dangerous weapon under the law, Njoroge reportedly attacked Police Constable Stanley Chege on October 4, 2023, along General Mathenge Road in the Ananas Area of Westlands, Nairobi.
He was in the company of others during the attack.
During the incident, PC Chege, who was the special owner of the police communication gadget issued to him by the national police force, was physically assaulted and threatened by the accused.
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Njoroge also faces a charge of malicious damage to property, with allegations that he willfully and unlawfully damaged the police communication gadget, the property of PC Chege, on the same day, October 4, 2023, in Sir George Area, Kihara, Kiambu County.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu on Monday, October 9, Njoroge sought to be admitted to bail, arguing that the offense he was charged with is bailable.
State prosecutor Ms Ann Munyua did not oppose the bail application but requested the magistrate to consider the fact that “the accused threatened a trained security officer mandated by the constitution to guard property and life.”
In her ruling, Ms Kimilu took note of the victim’s profession, emphasizing that PC Chege is a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tasked with safeguarding both life and property.
She expressed concern over the attack on a trained security officer and its implications for ordinary citizens.
Ms Kimilu subsequently granted the accused bail of Sh500,000 with one surety of a similar amount without an option for cash bail. The case will be mentioned for pre-trial directions on October 23, 2023.
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