Senior police officer arrested over extortion, assault

An Inspector with the National Police Service (NPS) who absconded duty and travelled to Nairobi to take up unauthorised traffic responsibilities at Globe Roundabout has been arrested for attempted extortion and assaulting a senior colleague.

At around 10am on Tuesday, Guyo Dida unlawfully detained a motorist, Najma Ali Magongo, and demanded Sh15,000 from her claiming that she had committed a traffic offence. He forcibly entered her vehicle and demanded the money before he could release her.

Members of the public became suspicious and informed the police. A team of officers led by Inspector Ambrose Kivuva, the duty officer at Central Police Station, rushed to the scene and stopped the vehicle.

When confronted, the officer became hostile and attempts to arrest him escalated into a physical altercation.

Full uniform
During the ensuing confrontation, Dida allegedly assaulted Kivuva, slapping him twice and tearing his uniform before being apprehended by additional officers and members of the public.

He was arrested while in full uniform by officers from Industrial Area Police Station and was also found in possession of a communication device belonging to the Tourist Police Unit (TPU). Later, he was handed over to the Kathozweni sub-county police commander and detained at Makueni for disciplinary action.

Dida, the deputy officer commanding station at Mavindini Police Station in Kathozweni sub-county had also in October last year been arrested for conducting unauthorised traffic duties at Bunyala roundabout in Makadara, Nairobi.

Festive misconduct
“Investigations have revealed that this is not his first incident of such misconduct. He had been arrested on October 23, 2024, while on leave,” a senior police officer told People Daily.

Following the arrest, the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered a thorough probe into an incident to establish what could be motivating the officer.

“The case is being analysed by a competent team and we’ll give a report to know the way forward. We will also look into the said claims of depression and take necessary action if need be,” NPS spokesperson Dr Resila Onyango said.

At least ten officers were arrested over the festive season in connection with corruption, according to the anti-graft body.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on January 2 said that the officers were arrested over alleged extortion of motorists during the Christmas period.