OCS loses gun as hunt for killer tout stepped up

By Cyrus Ombati

Women seeking help from the policeman were suddenly joined by men who grabbed officer’s weapon

A senior police officer was robbed of his pistol as police hunt for a crew accused of throwing a woman off a moving vehicle in Kawangware.

North Horr OCS had visited the city when he lost his pistol loaded with 14 bullets along Latema Road.

According to police, women who sought directions to a landmark building were suddenly joined by men who confronted the OCS and grabbed the weapon.

Central OCPD Robinson Mboloi said they are yet to make an arrest or recovery of the weapon.

“Officers have talked to witnesses and other people around the area in order to get the gun,” said Mboloi.

Stolen rifle

Mr Mboloi said detectives are pursuing several leads.

Meanwhile, police are yet to recover a rifle that was robbed from a guard to High Court Judge Lydia Achode a week ago.

Sergeant Gilbert Chepkwony was shot in the back when he argued with the gunmen who also escaped with his sub-machine gun at Garden estate.

Witnesses said the gang, in a saloon car, passed by the gate more than three times to attract Chepkwony’s attention.

Police and witnesses said the gang which was in a salon car had passed by the gate more than three times to attract Chepkwony’s attention and asked for direction to a local resident’s house.

When the officer stepped out and talked to them, they pumped bullets into his body from behind, grabbed his rifle and drove off.

And Dagoretti OCPD Mathew Gwiyo said they have alerted their colleagues in Kisii to join in the hunt for the crew that threw off a passenger.

The incident sparked protests from locals who burned the mini-bus that ran over the woman, killing her.

The woman was thrown off a public service vehicle after a dispute over fare.

According to witnesses, the woman had Sh20 for her fare to the city centre, but the tout told her to pay Sh30.

Sped off

The tout reportedly pushed her off when the matatu was still moving, forcing her to land on the road where another vehicle ran over her.

The driver of the matatu from which the woman fell sped off leaving the mini-bus that ran over her at the scene. It was then that a crowd set the mini-bus ablaze.

Business was paralysed for hours as police battled with youth who also vandalised the mini-bus. Police said the driver of the mini-bus was arrested after he went to report he had killed a woman.

Dagoretti DC Cornelius Wamalwa said yesterday police were pursuing leads into the whereabouts of the matatu crew.

Locals said touts hike fares at will and harass them when they complain.