Seven Nairobi City askaris charged for robbery with violence while on duty

Part of Nairobi City Hall building (PHOTO: FILE)

NAIROBI, KENYA: Seven Nairobi County askaris were Tuesday charged with robbery with violence after their arrest on Sunday.

They were also accused of using crude weapons to harass and extort money from traders during their daily operations.

John Muchoki, Maurice Mwonga, David Mwangi and wabobwa Maruti were accused of having robbed Mohammed Bashir Saney in Eastleigh of goods worth Sh100,000.They were armed with rungus, pangas and metal bars.

Additionally, they were also accused of robbing Stephen Maina who operates in the same area of goods worth Sh15, 800. Daringly, the officers are said to have moved to another location in Eastleigh and robbed William Ondongo of valuables worth Sh150,000 and Benson Macharia of wares worth Sh20,000.

In the first charge, Philemon Kimei, Peter Gitau and Bernard Kogi were charged with violently robbing Cyrus Maingi of 600 shillings on 29th October. This was said to happen during the officer’s patrols on Forest Lane in Ngara while armed.

 In the second case, John Muchoki, Maurice Mwonga, David Mwangi and Wabwoba Maruti, jointly with others, violently robbed hawker Benson Githinji of vests worth 20,000 shillings in Eastleigh.

The four county officials were also accused of stealing 14 pairs of bed sheets valued at 5,600 from Jeremiah Wambugu Njoki, with the seven appearing before senior resident magistrate Peter Mugure.

The court has however released the first three accused askaris on cash bail of 100,000 shillings each with the hearing set for 30th November.

Nairobi County Government Workers Union (NCGWU),Branch Secretary, Boniface Waweru said that the charges against them were grave and said he would issue a statement once investigations were through.

“I learnt of the charges today (November 31) but we will first have to confirm what happened,” he said.

NCGWU branch staff secretary, Benson Olianga claimed that governor Mike Sonko had ordered for the arrest of the officers and called for their release. He urged Sonko to stop harassing the officers and instead conduct investigations into whether the weapons belonged to the hawkers.  

In the recent past Governor Sonko had sent warning shots to members of the city inspectorate and promised to deal with the rogue and corrupt officers. He also took issue with a section of the countyaskaris who he had accused of harassing and extorting city residents saying that their days were numbered.

The arraignment of the officers in court was seen as the Governor making good his threat to put his hand around the neck of the charged officers. Traders have also been complaining of harassment from the county force.