Wanted rogue police officer dies in road accident in Machakos

A 23-year-old police officer who was wanted for investigation into claims of robbery with violence in Murang’a and Kiambu counties died in an accident along Kangundo-Kakuyuni Road, Machakos.

Constable Wilson Ndunda Kiilu died on Saturday when a motorcycle he was riding on as a pillion collided with a lorry.

Police said the rider also died after he and Kiilu sustained serious head injuries.

Kiilu had been missing from his place of work in Murang’a South since last year December, following a robbery with violence incident that was reported in the area.

A suspect was arrested after the robbery and mentioned the officer. Local commanders sent a note and circulated it among their command saying they were looking for the officer for grilling.

This followed a robbery in the area where a man was robbed of cash and valuables before his attackers escaped. The car the attackers were using was later recovered and one suspect arrested.

Kiilu was also linked to other robberies that were reported in Thika, Kiambu County.

It was until Saturday that it was established he was in Kangundo, when his identity cards were recovered from his clothes.  

Authorities handling the matter said they are investigating to establish if he was involved in other similar robbery incidents in the area.

The bodies of the two were taken to the local mortuary.

Cases of police being involved in crime are on the rise with authorities making efforts to address them. President Kenyatta on Friday ordered that officers who are involved in crimes should not be transferred elsewhere but instead be sacked.

There are dozens of cases pending in various places in which police are accused of being involved in crime.

Last year in October, police headquarters ordered that among others, all off duty officers be required to surrender their weapons at the armory in their respective stations before clocking out.

Crime branch officers will also be expected to be in uniform when attending court sessions to give evidence.

This followed a meeting that focused on increasing the visibility of officers in uniform who are on their daily beat and patrols.

Firearms will only be issued depending on the nature of the duty assigned to officers who will have to be briefed and debriefed after every assignment.

There is also planned zoning of Nairobi under an officer of the rank of police commissioner to complement the efforts of the regional commander as part of efforts to address the menace.