Police arrest 120 suspects over killing of six guards across Machakos County

At least 120 people have been arrested in different towns in Machakos County as police mount a major crackdown on criminal elements following last Thursday’s killing of six guards in Mitaboni.

The crackdown was carried out in shopping centres at Matungulu, Kangundo, Kathiani and Machakos sub counties after the county security team endorsed the operation following a meeting with Governor Alfred Mutua on Friday.

Yesterday, County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa said the operation on suspected criminals will continue throughout the county.

“We will not relent in the fight against crime, and police have been mobilised to intensify patrols especially at night to ensure residents are safe from all manner of threats,” Ms Sakwa told The Standard on Sunday, yesterday.

Earlier, Governor Mutua held a meeting with the county’s top security chiefs after which they jointly addressed the media and condemned the killings of the watchmen, which also left two guards seriously injured.

The crackdown came even as Dr Mutua announced that two men suspected to have been part of a gang that butchered the six guards in Mitaboni and Ngelani on Thursday had beenarrested.

“Security agencies have already arrested two men who are key suspects in the murder and are pursuing six more who have gone into hiding,” he said at a press briefing in his office at the weekend.

He said detectives were also investigating a political dimension in relation to the killings. “Some aspirants for political seats are also under investigation for their suspected role,” he said.

The development came as a top KNUT official in Kangundo, who was shot and by gunmen at his home on Wednesday, died at KNH.