Police arrest suspect in killing of a police officer in Siaya

The slain officer was escorting exam papers to Mahero Secondary School.

Police in Siaya have arrested a man believed to be part of a gang that killed a police officer who was escorting KCSE exam papers to Maheto Secondary School in Alego Usonga, Siaya County last month.

They say that the suspect is part of a criminal gang that operates within the county.

Hastings Omondi Odipo aka Martin aka Umar aged 25 was arrested in Usenge Village within the Bondo area, Siaya County following a tip-off by members of the public.

"The suspect is being held at Lwala Kotieno Police Station where several charges will be preferred against him," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated on X.

Police say that Omondi who has been on the run since November 20, hails from the Kadenge area and worked as a fisherman at Nina Beach near Lake Victoria before joining the criminal gang that has been terrorising locals in the Western and Nyanza regions.

DCI had published his photos and those of people they said were his associates including; Edwin Omondi alias Rashid, Simon Ochieng Ouma alias Ali Baba, Salim Jackoyo, and Edward Wanyama Mukanga alia Abu Naiyah asking the public for information on their whereabouts.

The gang is suspected to have stabbed to death the police officer before robbing off his rifle and that of a colleague as they escorted the national exams papers.

One of the rifles was found days later.