Four linked to Kericho M-Pesa agent killing nabbed, car seized

Kirui, an M-Pesa agent, was killed on August 6 when he completed paying for a Toyota Fielder. [Courtesy]

Detectives in Kericho have arrested four suspects behind a syndicate that involves luring unsuspecting motor vehicle buyers before killing them.

County Criminal Investigations officer John Onyango said they busted the gang following the murder of 26-year-old M-Pesa agent Alex Kirui.

Kirui was killed on August 6 when he completed paying for a Toyota Fielder the suspects had lured him into buying. His body was found in a culvert in Siongiroi, Bomet County.

Kirui’s relatives said he had paid Sh500,000 deposit and was paying the balance, same amount, when he was killed.

Mr Onyango said they busted the gang’s leader, a man in his 50s, in Nakuru. “He was inside the car and in the process of selling the same car to another unsuspecting buyer”.

The Kericho CCI said the suspect, in a rush to dispose of the motor vehicle or mislead detectives, had left Kirui’s shoes in the car’s boot.

Kirui worked with Extranet outlets in Kericho. He was stripped before being killed. A post-mortem report indicated he was strangled, his head twisted backward and broken.

The second suspect was caught in Kuresoi’s Olenguruone. “He led us to the third one, who also led us to the fourth suspect in Kipchimchim, Ainamoi. They together participated in the murder of Kirui,” said Onyango. 

The suspect’s vehicle, in which the killing of Kirui is thought to have happened, was towed to Kericho. “We are in the process of taking down the suspects’ statements. They will be arraigned to answer to murder and robbery with violence charges,” he said.