6 men believed to have raided and torched a police station in Meru have been arraigned in court.
The six identified as David Kaberia Kobia, Felix Kimathi Mutheria, Benard Mutuma alias Toto, Pius Ntongai, Eliud Mukiri Kalatu and Erastus Mwenda Kaibutia, were presented at the Maua Law Courts for plea taking.
The six are said to have raided the police station on December 6, 2023 and “breaking into a police Armory and stealing a loaded AK47 rifle by a riotous mob.”
According t the police report, the suspects incited “over 500 mourners at a 16-year-old boy’s funeral in Muringene, Igembe Central, to raid Antubeiga Police Post where they stole the rifle and set the exhibit store and a female officer’s house ablaze.”
The mob later proceeded to another police station with Erastus Mwenda carrying the stolen rifle.
“The mob proceeded to Muringene Police Station where they subdued the officers and aided the escape of all the prisoners, before destroying all the station’s stationeries and furniture, then shattered window panes of the police line and the chief’s office,” DCI stated.
The police however were able to determine that the actions were a plot criminals who intended to steal firearms from the police officers so that they can further their criminal agenda.
“Consequently, specialized units from DCI Headquarters including Crime Research and Operations detectives were deployed to join their Meru counterparts in a rigorous manhunt for the dreaded ruffians. On 8th December at the devil’s hour, Erastus Mwenda was flushed out of his hideout in Nanyuki, and after a brief interrogation with our hawkshaws led them to VIP Bar located at Nturuba Market within Igembe Central,” DCI said.
Police searched a room that was occupied by Kimathi in the bar, recovering a pistol in the process. Kimathi however told the police that the pistol belonged to Mukiri.
“A quick profiling by the crime research team established that Eliud Mukiri had an ongoing case of murder at the Meru High Court, where he and others who have been on the run are charged.,” DCI said.
Mutuma and Kimathi were also found to be accomplices of the murder case in Meru High Court.
The suspects will remain under police custody as they await the mentioning of their case on January 10, 2024, after the court declined to release them on bail.
SUSPECTS WHO RAIDED AND TORCHED POLICE STATIONS IN MERU ARRAIGNED.
After concluding investigations into the December 6, 2023 daring breaking into a police armoury and stealing a loaded AK47 rifle by a riotous mob, detectives have arraigned six suspects at Maua Law Courts.… pic.twitter.com/JvylP9PfZw
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) December 14, 2023
