NYERI, Kenya, Mar 14 — Central Regional Commissioner Fredrick Shisia has defended police officers in Murang’a dismissing reports a recent murder of two suspected robbers may have been an execution.
Shisia spoke Tuesday amid mounting pressure after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) opened an investigation following questions casting doubt on the police account of events.
The two suspects are said to have been arrested in connection to a robbery Unaitas Sacco on February 25 and a previous incident of snatching two firearms from police officers on patrol.
While defending officers involved in the operation, the RC said that the suspects had, after their arrest and upon interrogation, promised to take the officers where the two guns were being hidden in a nearby thicket.
He explained that the officers, to their shock, were met with gunfire upon arriving at the scene allegedly by other members of the same gang who were in the hideout.
Shisia said that the officers had to immediately take cover and begun engaging the attackers.
“It should be very clear to all that our officers had no intention to kill as they were only responding to an aggression that they least expected,” the RC said.
He argued that the suspects who had been arrested were shot dead after being caught up in crossfire between the police and armed gang members.
Missing ammunition
Shisia added that although the officers involved in the operation were not injured in the shoot-out, the attackers dropped two guns, an AK- 47 and a G3 rifle before disappearing in the thickets after sensing defeat.
The RC said the recovered AK 47 had 14 rounds of ammunition indicating that 16 rounds were missing while the G3 rifle had only 8 rounds with 12 rounds missing.
He nevertheless invited IPOA to carry out their independent investigations in relation to the incidence stating there is nothing to hide.
The RC said the gunned down suspects belong to a deadly gang that has been extorting residents in Murang’a’s Kigumo area.
“The gang has been running an extortion ring in Kigumo but they should now know that their time is up,” he said.
About The Author
