Suspect in drug case shooting grilled

The man accused of killing Samuel Mugoh Muvota in Mirema, Nairobi County, surrendered to the police just three days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) profiled him.

Dennis Karani Gachoki and his lawyer yesterday went to the DCI headquarters where he was grilled for hours and then transferred to Kasarani Police Station.

Armed and dangerous

On Friday, DCI described him as armed and dangerous and appealed to the public to volunteer information that could lead to his arrest. Gachoki, however, claimed he was innocent, adding that he had only met the deceased on two occasions, in Nairobi and in Meru.

“I have never communicated with the deceased and we have never done any business or deal together. I did not kill him and I will prove my innocence,” he said yesterday at the DCI headquarters

Gachoki, who has another case at Meru Law Courts where he is accused of receiving money acquired through fraudulent means, said he decided to surrender as he felt his life was in danger.

He was reportedly informed by someone who knows him after they saw the public notice by the DCI.

Gachoki also denied involvement in the current stupefying activities in bars.

The DCI claimed Muvota recruited women to visit entertainment joints to stupefy revellers with drugs before stealing from them.

Gachoki, however, denied any involvement and said he did not have the deceased’s contacts, adding that they last met in March last year.

The DCI has profiled the women and explained how Muvota built his empire consisting of real estate properties from proceeds of crime.

“Bar owners are equally advised to be on the lookout for suspicious women who are out to spike drinks in entertainment spots. They should report them to the authorities immediately,” the DCI said.

Stolen police firearm

Gachoki was also grilled on reports that he was in possession of a firearm that was stolen from a Mombasa-based police officer after he was stupefied with drugs in November 2020.

According to the DCI, the suspects operate freely with the help of rogue officers who tip them about any planned security operation.

Gachoki is said to have fallen out with his boss, Muvota, over sharing of proceeds from their spiking business.

Muvota was shot dead on May 16 by a lone gunman shortly after dropping off a friend. He was found with seven identification documents.

Three people have identified their documents, which they say were lost after they were drugged between May 14 and 16 within Kahawa West and Kasarani areas.

Though Muvota is said to have been involved in crime since 2011, records about his arraignment in court for these offences are scanty.

Various CCTV footage released by the DCI has captured Muvota stealing from ATMs at various banks.