Policeman stoned to death, robbed of gun in operation over illicit brew
Police officers were on March 13, 2024, sent to hunt down a gang that stoned to death a senior police officer during a failed operation to recover suspected illicit alcohol in Siaya.
Police said Inspector Simon Mwangi Kariuki of Ndori police station was attacked by villagers of Oyude area, Rarieda, Siaya County after he and another officer arrested a notorious brew dealer in the area.
The gang also robbed the slain officer of his Ceska pistol which had nine bullets.
The incident has led to a major hunt for the attackers and the missing weapon is ongoing.
Kariuki who has been in charge of the crime branch and his colleague booked and proceeded to a scene to arrest a woman who was found in procession of illicit brew at Oyude market.
The officers arrested the woman who had 21 sachets of the said alcohol and four packets of cigarettes that they said were for export.
In the process, the woman raised alarm alerting the locals who raced to her rescue and started stoning the two officers.
They also used crude weapons to attack the officers killing Kariuki on the spot as his colleague escaped for his life but with injuries.
Kariuki fired five bullets into the air to scare the mob in vain but the mob overpowered and killed him before snatching his pistol and escaping from the scene, police said.
“The woman who had been arrested has been detained and is assisting the police in the probe and hunt on the attackers,” police said in a statement.
The body was moved to Lwak Mission Hospital mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.
The latest attack comes hours after the Cabinet on Wednesay endorsed measures the government has taken in the fight against illegal brews and narcotic drugs.
These measures, announced by the Interior Ministry, include a 21-day suspension of all 52 licences and permits issued to manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcohol, revocation of all bar licences issued by counties against the law and an audit of conflict of interest within the ranks of enforcement agencies.
Other measures include nationwide crackdown on the sale, transportation, distribution and consumption of illicit brews and narcotic drugs.
The Cabinet resolved that any public officials who resist these measures on the fight against illicit brews and drugs will be violating Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws on conflict of interest.
These include officials in the National Police Service, National Administration, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, public health and public prosecution.
The Cabinet was informed that since the Interior ministry started implementing these measures, 2,393 non-compliant premises, 359 pharmacies and chemists and 452 agro-vets have been closed.
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