KRA official in Sh8 billion gold smuggling probe executed

By CYRUS OMBATI

A senior Kenya Revenue Authority official who has been leading investigation into a Sh8 billion gold smuggling syndicate has been killed.

Joseph Cheptarus, 40, was shot four times at close range before his body was thrown out of his car, minutes after he was ushered into his compound in South C on Saturday.

The KRA’s Assistant Commissioner for Investigations and Enforcement was investigating, among other cases, the illegal importation of 2.5 tonnes of gold from Eastern Congo last month, a task he took last week.

Witnesses and police said four gunmen shot him in the stomach after he entered his compound at his Seledo Springs estate in Nairobi.

According to his wife Viola, Cheptarus had pressed the bell at the gate when the gang struck.

"He had not expressed fear, but this is pure execution and we believe it has something to do with a case he was handling at his place of work," said Mrs Cheptarus.

Interpol involved

DRC authorities had requested Interpol to track suspected smugglers and seize any consignments on transit in Kenya.

"Cheptarus had been stationed at the airport to pursue how the precious metal is stolen from the DRC and smuggled into Kenya and markets overseas," said a senior KRA official, who sought anonymity.

Cheptarus was given the task after the DRC Regional and International Co-operation Minister Raymond Tshibanda and his Mining counterpart Martin Kabwelulu allegedly met President Kibaki at Harambee House and delivered a message from President Joseph Kabila on the issue.

Kibaki apparently pledged support to end the illegal trade, and it was then that the Government enhanced screening of imports at the country’s points of entry, especially JKIA.

Guards at the compound said the gang that killed Cheptarus arrived there at about 11pm on Friday and took them hostage. They were bundled into a car and driven off to Ngong Forest, where they were abandoned.

For three hours, part of the gang is said to have taken charge of the gate, ushering motorists in and out while waiting for Cheptarus, until he drove in at about 1.15am.

His wife said Cheptarus was alone in his official attire when he was shot. The house where he was killed is about 50 metres from the main gate of the estate, and is sandwiched by others. At the metal gate, there were four marks of gunshots fired by the gunmen as they eliminated the KRA official.

"Those marks leave a bad memory to us, but also show their intention was to finish him," said his wife.

It is believed they ushered him in and later followed him to his gate before confronting him.

Quiet man

The woman described her husband as a quiet man, who did his job religiously. She said after the bell rang, she woke up to open the gate, but she heard the first gunshot and dashed back to the house.

"I later watched from the balcony as his saloon car was driven out as we raised the alarm. My husband’s body lay in a pool of blood within the compound," she said.

The gang drove the car and abandoned it along Mai Mahiu Road, about five kilometres away. Cheptarus’ mobile phones and other valuables were missing.

The guards, who had been abducted, arrived back to their place of work on Saturday at about noon and narrated their experience.

They said the gang drove and stopped ocassionally to rob other motorists till they arrived at the forest, where they were tied and dumped.

"We were in the boot but could tell they had blocked a car and were stealing. They shouted at their targets demanding money and other valuables," said one of the guards.

One of them said the gang kept asking them about Cheptarus’ movements and if he was armed.