Crime busters from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) on Sunday arrested a robbery with violence and rape suspect in a dramatic arrest that almost turned into a lynch against the detectives.
According to the detectives, the suspect was arrested at the Kiamanyeki area of Mwea East in Kirinyaga where she had gone into hiding after committing the crime.
”A suspect implicated in a case of robbery with violence and rape is in custody following her arrest earlier today at Kiamanyeki area of Mwea East. The arrest followed a sting operation conducted by Kirinyaga Central detectives,” DCI stated in a statement.
”The officers had been deployed by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer to pursue the runaway suspect named in an ongoing Criminal Case No. 278/33/2024 and Court File No. E381, who traced the suspect, to the village and moved in swiftly to effect the arrest,” it added.
Residents intercept a car with civilian officers en route to make arrests.
Courtesy
Earlier, the arrest almost turned into a nightmare for the detectives after villagers where the suspect was hiding blocked and almost lynched the officers after they failed to properly introduce themselves. The crowd initially suspected that the civilian-dressed officers were abductors.
The tension escalated further as residents nearly set ablaze the vehicle the officers were using to carry out the arrest. The situation soon turned dramatic when the residents surrounded the officers’ operational vehicle, a Subaru Impreza.
According to the DCI, it took the efforts of the local administration and police to calm down the angry residents who were baying for their blood.
”A rowdy mob, however, pooled forces and attacked the officers who were onboard a government vehicle threatening to set it ablaze should they not release the suspect,” DCI shared after the ordeal.
”Thanks to a back up by the local police, area chief, and Nyumba Kumi heads, who prevailed over the tense situation and facilitated the taking into custody of the dangerous suspect,” they added.
Following the earlier incident, the officers have warned members of the public against obstructing officers on duty, terming such acts as criminal offences.
According to earlier reports, the villagers acted out of fear and suspicion fueled by the widespread concern among Kenyans over public kidnappings and abductions allegedly carried out by unidentified individuals believed to be linked to security forces.
”The DCI cautions members of the public that obstructing police officers in the course of executing their constitutional mandate is a serious criminal offence, and much worse is any attempt to aid the escape of a criminal offender or prisoner,” DCI added.
Incidents of abductions have eroded the trust and confidence that Kenyans once had in the operational methods previously employed by authorities, which were intended to keep them undercover and conceal their actions.
A collage of the entrance to the DCI headquaters and a vehicle belonging to officers who had been sorrounded in Kirinyaga on January 12, 2025.
DCI/Courtesy