Police chief arrested over link to killing of Star journalist

Victor Luta who is said to have been in the house together with Ugunja police station deputy OCS Sabina Kerubo where Siaya based Star Journalist Erick Oloo was killed. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

A senior policewoman has been arrested after a Siaya-based journalist was found dead in her house.

Chief Inspector Sabina Kerubo is being investigated in connection with the killing of the Star newspaper correspondent Eric Oloo, amid claims that the journalist's death was a case of love gone sour.

The officer was arrested yesterday morning, hours after the body of the journalist was discovered in their rented house in Ugunja township.

Ms Kerubo and Oloo had been living together for the last 14 months, according to neighbours.

The policewoman, who was transferred from Nandi County two years, was arrested alongside another man – Victor  Lutta – believed to have been in the house at the time of Oloo's death.

Also arrested was the police woman's teenage daughter and their house help. 

Ugunja OCPD Ibrahim Muchuma said they learnt about Mr Oloo's death from the couple's landlord, who reported the matter yesterday morning.

"We received information this morning from Ms Kerubo's landlord. The police officer had gone to his house to request for transport to take someone to hospital who was not in good shape," said the OCPD.

He added: "When the landlord arrived at the officer's house, Oloo was already unconscious and he refused to carry him to his car and instead came to make a report."

Turned down

After being turned down by the landlord, Kerubo reportedly decided to get a taxi with help of  Mr Luta. They returned with the taxi only to find Oloo dead and police officers waiting for them.

"I cannot confirm the cause of his death, but the incident is being investigated," said Mr  Muchuma.

The house help claimed that around 8pm on Wednesday, Kerubo returned home together with Lutta and his brother.

She claimed there was a scuffle over unknown reasons between Luta and the journalist.

Later, she said Kerubo asked the three men to leave the house.

"Around midnight they returned. They knocked at the door but I did not open the door because I was not feeling well. Ms Kerubo's daughter opened the door for them. I heard Oloo screaming so I called Ms Kerubo's daughter to my room," said the house help.

The landlord told reporters that Kerubo showed up at his house yesterday morning to seek for help, claiming her husband was sick and in a critical condition.

"She said the husband was too sick to sit and so she needed a car to ferry him to hospital. On getting to her house, I found the journalist lying in bed, a pillow supporting his bleeding head. He was unconscious," said the landlord.

The landlord said that officers from the station returned with him to the house where they took the body to the mortuary.

The landlord said the body had front and back injuries

Peter Onyango, the deceased's uncle, said the couple had domestic problems. He said said they had not seen Oloo for one week.

A senior police officer at Ugunja police headquarters, who requested anonymity, said Kerubo was an honest officer, but was struggling with "personal issues".

"Sometime she takes days before coming to work," said the officer.

Deep cuts

Oloo, 41,  had a deep cut on the forehead at the back of the head. His face was swollen and he was bleeding from the mouth.

The police yesterday said they were investigating a possible love triangle. They are still pursuing another suspect said to be a relative of Lutta.

Keziah Oloo, who is the mother of the late journalist, said she received information about her son's death yesterday morning from relatives.

Central Alego MCA Leonard Oriaro condemned Oloo's  killing and asked the Inspector General of Police to ensure the killers are brought to book.