Kuria asks for transfer of police bosses in Gatundu

Mourners carry the cascket bearing the body of a 23-year-old Joseph Kagua, who was murdered by gunmen. [Kamau Njoroge, Standard]

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has called for a total overhaul of the police service in the area accusing them of colluding with a gang that terrorize locals with impunity for more than a month now.

The legislator claimed some rogue security officers were leasing their guns to criminals, who have reined terror in the region and said all the senior cops should be transferred with immediate effect. Kuria was speaking during the burial of 23-year-old Joseph Kagua Kibe, who was gunned down by robbers when they broke into his home in Ichaweri village on September 9.

Mourners had earlier attempted to dump the deceased’s body at Gatundu South police station but were repulsed by the police. “All senior officers starting from the sub-county police commander, OCS and DCIO must be moved immediately. These criminals are terrorizing residents under their watch,” Kuria said. Villagers have been living in fear of attacks by the armed gangsters who have broken into homes in the recent past and robbed residents of money and other valuables.

Sinister motive

 Kuria said that it appeared as if there was a scheme to portray the area which is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s rural home as insecure and accused the police of sleeping in the job.

“It’s as if there are some quarters that want to depict that the President’s backyard is not secure. It’s sad that the killer gangs are perpetrating their crimes just at the doors of the president’s home and yet the police are doing nothing about it,” he said He also said the area chief should resign as he has failed his employer.

“How can robbers continue to terrorize our people yet the chief and security agents are doing nothing,” he posed. Kuria threatened to lead locals in forcefully ejecting the police chiefs if they are not removed. “If they can’t handle the insecurity we will call a baraza and select our young men who will provide security to residents. Then we will remove the cops from their offices,” the MP said.

 Kibe’s killing came barely days after the body of another resident from the area Bernard Kiruki was found dumped in a thicket in Tatu City after he went missing for several days. The night before the burial of Kibe a gang broke into a home at Gichuri village in Ng’enda location and raped a woman repeatedly for hours.

According to neighbors the gang of more than eight men broke into the victim’s house using boulders before perpetrating the heinous act. They raped the woman in front of her father.

“The father begged with the criminals not to harm his daughter and even gave them Sh1000, the only money he had, but they could hear none of his pleas,” said a villager who requested anonymity.

 The villagers said that they cannot even speak in front of cameras because they will be the next victims. “Speaking to the press is like signing a death warrant now because the criminals will hunt you down and kill you,” the villager added.

Painful ordeal

At Githaruru village, the gang broke into another home where the terrorised the family for more than five hours. The criminals are said to have prepared a meal of three chickens and Ugali. After eating to their fill, they ransacked the house and left with money and other valuables.

“They are armed with pistols and other crude weapons including pangas and mallets. If one fails to open the door for them, they break the walls using the mallets. The police are doing nothing about this. Only God will save us,” another resident said.

The villagers called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and order the country’s top cops to address the matter. However, Gatundu South deputy county commissioner John Miricho Maina has said that three people have been arrested in connection to the robberies and killing. He said that on Tuesday another suspect was arrested in Ruiru town.