Police deserter arrested after botched robbery in Kibera
A rogue police officer attached to Mandera Police Station, who deserted duty, has been arrested in Kibera following a botched robbery.
Constable Moses Musungu Buluma had on Tuesday afternoon, in the company of one of his gang members, attacked a businesswoman who was taking money to the Equity Bank, Kibera Branch.
Nairobi County police commander Japheth Koome Wednesday said that Constable Buluma and another suspect who was later lynched, attacked Belinda Ondiko and robbed her of Sh490,000, which she was going to bank.
The two snatched the bag and threatened to shoot her but the victim raised alarm. Members of the public cornered the two and one of them was beaten to death and his body set on fire.
The officer was, however, rescued and members of the public recovered a pistol, American Classic, and one round of ammunition. He was also found with some pellets and the police Certificate of Appointment (CofA).
Senior officers in Mandera County headquarters on Wednesday confirmed that the officer was attached to the Mandera Police Station and that a warrant of arrest had been issued against him.
CRIMINAL CASES
Mr Koome said that they were also investigating reports that the officer had joined a gang of three other men based in Kibera who are said to have been behind a spate of robberies.
“The firearm he had, however, did not belong to any of the security agencies,” Mr Koome said.
Latest reports indicate that police commanders are grappling with increasing disciplinary and criminal cases involving their juniors across the country.
Apart from the hundreds of cases currently being investigated by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), at least 30 police officers have been subjected to either disciplinary proceedings or criminal investigations in the last six weeks.
At least nine police officers deserted duty and police records indicate that three of them have been arrested and arraigned in court.
Three weeks ago, another officer Constable James Nderitu based at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) who had been declared a deserter was also arrested in Langata.
Mr Koome said that the officer was arrested at the Langata shopping centre while in possession of fake currency totaling to Sh11, 000. The court had already issued a warrant of arrest against the Constable.
