Four cops arrested, 37 Ethiopian migrants rescued in Mwihoko
Four police officers and 37 Ethiopians were arrested on Tuesday, February 20, after being found in a house in Mwihoko, Kiambu County.
Three of the officers are from Pangani police station and were allegedly operating outside their jurisdiction without the knowledge of their commanders, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
The sting operation, conducted by detectives from the DCI’s Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), caught the officers unawares as two of them tried in vain to escape.
“An extensive search was carried out in the adjoining property after two men were seen jumping and it was established that the two were police officers,” the DCI’s headquarters said, adding that both officers suffered ankle injuries.
The two were later identified as Constable Kenyatta Ukur of Githurai police station and Constable Griffin Ongeri of Starehe (Pangani) patrol. Both were armed with Beretta and Ceska pistols respectively.
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While the detectives were still at the scene, two other officers from Starehe – Corporal Eric Tonui and Corporal Timothy Kiptoo – also arrived at the scene, accompanied by two other foreigners in a vehicle with registration number KCQ 085R.
“Both officers were armed with Ceska pistols and had arrested two other foreigners who were handcuffed,” the detectives said.
The owner of the house has not yet been traced.
The vehicle found at the scene and another belonging to one of the officers were towed to Mwihoko police station while investigations continued.
The four officers were taken to DCI headquarters for further questioning.
The incident comes just a day after police also rescued 16 children – 11 boys and 5 girls – from a house in Soweto, Kayole in Nairobi. Police said the girls were aged 2, 6, 7, 10 and 12.