4 suspects charged with kidnapping, robbing senior gov't official on Kangundo Road

Four suspects accused of hijacking, kidnapping and robbing a retired senior government official last year have been arraigned at Kangundo Law Courts.

The four; Duncan Wambua Kimeu, Dennis Ndolo Mutunga, Wambua Kinyili Mutunga and Charles Mutinda Margaret appeared before Principal Magistrate Sammy Opande after applying for a review of their bond and bail terms.

In the case, the quartet allegedly kidnapped former Chief Physiotherapist Titus Muteti Kilika at Kambai junction along Kangundo-Mwala road in Machakos County, robbed him of his personal items and over Ksh.1.5 million.

They had spent about two months awaiting the court approval after being awarded bond terms of Ksh.5 million each.

Despite appealing for favourable terms, the prosecution placed an injunction to deny them bond terms citing witness interference concerns.

The court then ordered the DCI through the Cyber Crime Unit to investigate the allegations that the suspects had previously issued threats and intimidations to the victim through their phones, resulting in the delay.

DCI through Senior Sergeant Fredrick Maina told the Kangundo court that the said phone calls by the suspects were meant to intimidate and threaten him to drop the case.

Magistrate Opande in his ruling granted third and fourth accused Ksh.5 million bonds while the first and second defendants were denied bail.

The court argued that there was enough evidence of the first two suspects calling and also texting the victim on various occasions indicating that they may be linked to the crime. The court also found evidence of previous criminal records for two accused persons.

The third and fourth defendants (Wambua Kinyili Mutunga and Charles Mutinda Margaret) were at the same time given the green light to pay the Ksh.5 million bond since there was no form of communication linking them to the complainant in regard to threats.

The victim is said to have been hijacked on April 29, 2024, while being carried by the first accused Duncan Wambua who has been his taxi driver for more than 10 years. The driver had allegedly organised the hijacking and kidnapping.

He was then robbed of one Samsung mobile phone handset, National ID card, NHIF Card, Medical practising Card, ATM Cards of Equity, Family, Sidian and Shirika link Banks and cash all valued at Ksh.1,503,111 before the gang threatened to use violence.