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Most armed robbers behind the recent killings and robberies have been involved in various similar crimes for long, casting doubt on the ability of security officers to conduct speedy investigations.

On Saturday, detectives arrested Paul Odhiambo Owuodho alias ‘Fazul Muhamed’ who had on November 9 been captured on CCTV shooting a 25-year-old near DD Plaza in Eastleigh, Nairobi county.

The fatal shooting of Abdirahim Abdullahi Ibrahim was reported at California Police Station.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), arrested him in Kiambiu slums and it was later established that the suspect was linked to the fatal shooting of Constable David Mayaka of DCI Makadara in Mihang’o on August 8 last year.

Owuodho was in the company of two other men riding on a motorcycle.

Two weeks later, one of the robbers, John Kerori Kamau alias ‘Jonte’ was shot dead in Dhawabu area of Soweto, Kayole in Nairobi county during a dawn joint operation where a CZ pistol serial number B626735 loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition recovered.

One of the suspects, Alex Wanjiru, 23, was later arrested and charged in court.

Violently robbed

The firearm recovered was found to have been violently robbed from an aide to a former Cabinet Secretary, in a robbery incident reported on November 17, 2021 in Kerarapon Ngong, Kajiado county.

During the incident, the aide who was a licensed firearm holder was driving into his compound at around 2am, when he was accosted by a four-man gang armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and crude weapons including metal bars and machetes. They also stole 55 rounds of ammunition from his safe.

The DCI boss Mohammed Amin said a comprehensive analysis conducted by ballistic experts based at the DCI National Forensic Lab has since linked the firearm that fired the fatal shot to five other previous robbery incidents in the city.

Mayaka was driving home in the company of his wife on August 8, at around 10 pm when they were accosted by the three-man gang riding on a motorbike.

Willis Ayieko murder

In another related case, preliminary investigations have revealed that one of the main suspects in the murder of Wells Fargo director Willis Ayieko had been involved in several violent robberies, including the fatal shooting of a female Mpesa agent in Kisumu on January 27.

34-year-old Robert Wakolo Okoth, alias George Oduor Okoth and a resident of Nyamasaria in Kisumu was later linked to a series of violent robberies within the county and its environs. On January 27, for example, he shot dead Mpesa agent Grace Awino Odera at Kibuye Market near Hekima school in Lolwe.

“In the incident, one suspect was arrested, and an AK 47 rifle earlier robbed from a Ugandan police officer recovered. Robert Wakolo, however, managed to get away,” the DCI said.

On May 3, detectives also raided Wakolo’s home in Nyamasaria, recovering another AK 47 rifle, a magazine and 36 live rounds of ammunition. Although he managed to escape, his 17-year-old younger brother and suspected accomplice was arrested and charged.

Wakolo was also wanted by Kondele police for robbery with violence and possessing a magazine and ammunitions.

Reports also indicate the Police Service has little capacity to monitor rogue officers who were dismissed or interdicted from the service due to criminal activities. According to investigations, some rogue officers who have either been dismissed or interdicted, or with cases pending before courts are still involved in criminal activities.

The extent of involvement of police in criminal and corrupt activities can however not be established as most of these cases go unreported as most of the victims fear for their lives or also criminals who would not want to expose themselves. According to the DCI, following relapse into criminal activity, crimes by former inmates alone account for a substantial share of the current and future crimes, posing a major policing challenge.