CID officer Zebedeo Maina allegedly shot dead by colleagues in Kitui town

By Cyrus Ombati

Kitui, Kenya: A senior CID officer who once led controversial police squads at the height of Mungiki crackdown was allegedly shot dead by his colleagues in mysterious circumstances in Kitui town.

Chief Inspector Zebedeo Maina was once the head of Kwekwe and Eagle police squads that were behind the crackdown of Mungiki members between 2008 and 2010 during which tens of the youths were killed.

Maina was shot in the back as he led a team of officers to rescue a five and half year-old-girl in Kitui town on Saturday night. The girl had been kidnapped from Nairobi.

His colleagues who did not want to be named believe he was shot by his junior as he walked out of their car.

Maina joins a list of at least five other officers of the squad who have mysteriously died in the past four years.

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Eastern police boss Mercus Ochola said Maina succumbed to bullet injuries as he was being rushed to hospital after the 6pm shooting incident.

“He died while on the way to hospital while one of the suspects was injured. It is unfortunate he died,” said Ochola.

To many who are still surviving in the underworld, the mention of Maina would cause shivers in their spines.

He was one of the most ruthless undercover officers of his time, feared by criminals and colleagues alike.

“He was a law unto himself and even us we feared him because he would not compromise with a suspect,” said a senior officer who knew him.

His death and especially through a shot from his colleague will definitely elicit mixed debate given the nature of assignments he handled before.

According to Ochola, a team of detectives had arrived from Nairobi to seek the help of their colleagues in Kitui to help trace the whereabouts of the girl who had been kidnapped from Ruai area.

The officers reportedly sought the help from the local CID office and Maina was asked to lead the operation.

They then arrived at a local restaurant and were informed the men believed to be behind the kidnapping were hiding there when Maina was prompted to alight and walk there.

“As he approached the entrance of the restaurant, a confrontation ensued and he was shot from the back. It is not clear how he was shot,” said Ochola.

Ochola said the child had not been rescued.