Outbreak now puts brakes on probes

Major police investigations including the search for missing sharpshooter Dafton Mwitiki have been affected the coronavirus pandemic.

Another case delayed by the virus spread is murder probe of Deputy President William Ruto’s security officer Sergeant Kenei Kipyegon.

This follows changes in operations at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over the coronavirus.

Last week, Kilimani DCI officers took up investigations into the missing businessman from Juja DCI after the family protested at the slow pace.

The new team had recorded statements from security guards and family of the missing man before effects of the coronavirus kicked in and slowed the probe.

Kilimani DCI chief Fatuma Hadi could not be reached for comment as she did not answer calls and text messages.

Police operations

Investigators familiar with the matter told Saturday Standard that investigations had slowed down because police operations had been affected by the new measures on curbing the virus.

Another reason why investigations have slowed down is because investigators have been deployed to emergency incidents. “We are working in shifts; all old matters have to wait until the situation is back to normal,” said investigators at the station.

Police have also been unable to get crucial documents such as call data from mobile phone companies owing to scale down of operations by service providers.

The situation at the DCI headquarters is the same.

Investigators in the Kenei murder have been deployed to help medical personnel search and trace coronavirus victims.