Police officer among three suspects arrested over series of robberies in Meru

Detectives in Meru County have arrested three robbery-with-violence suspects in connection to a series of break-ins and killings in Imenti North and Buuri West sub-counties.

The three, among them a police corporal based in Marsabit County, were nabbed separately as officers recovered an M16 model (SAR) rifle with two magazines and 67 rounds of 5.5mm ammunition.

A statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday revealed that the arrest of the two robbers - Patrick Muriera M’mbijiwe (35), and Kenneth Muthethia Kiriinya alias Kiroria - linked Corporal Dominic Munene Peter to the crimes.

“Through meticulous interrogation, the suspects eventually led the officers to Kianjuri village, where they claimed they had buried the firearm in a concealed location,” read a section of the statement.

“In an unfortunate turn of events, investigations revealed that a police officer based at Marsabit County namely Cpl Dominic Munene Peter has been working in cahoots with the thugs by facilitating their evil missions. He was swiftly arrested before holing up.”

DCI explained that the operation led by a contingent of sleuths drawn from the Criminal Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), Operation Support Unit (OSU), and Operation Action Team (OAT) had been trailing the suspects after reports of their atrocities against  Meru residents.

According to DCI, the suspects had on diverse dates raided homes in Magati and Rugusu villages respectively, stolen dairy cows, fired shots in the air and at one point killed a woman.

In yet another incident, the robbers violently broke into a home, attempted to set it on fire and in the process shot the owner and his wife.

“In one of their series of crimes reported on September 5th, 2024, the hoodlums brazenly stormed a homestead in Magati village, making off with two prized cows; a Friesian and an Ayrshire. During this audacious act, they fired five live rounds into the air, sending innocent villagers scampering for their safety,” the DCI stated.

“In yet another chilling incident on September 15th, 2024, the suspects raided a home in Rugusu, stealing a dairy cow. They loaded the cow into a getaway pickup and vanished like phantoms. During this raid, the malefactors shot the owner, a woman, for raising the alarm. Tragically, she was pronounced dead on arrival at Kiirua Mission Hospital.”

The DCI added: “In their most recent bizarre escapade, the suspects attempted to torch a four-bedroom house, but the house did not catch fire. Frustrated by their failed arson attempt, they indiscriminately shot at the door of the house, hitting the man of the house three times in the belly and his wife in the abdomen. The victims are admitted at Kiirua Mission Hospital in serious condition.”

Following their arrest, detectives also recovered a black jacket, two gunny bags, and a brown marvin, all concealed in a hole where they found the rifle.

Investigations have since linked the recovered firearm to earlier submitted cartridges.