Police Explain How Murang'a Robbers Died

Central Kenya Regional Commissioner Fredrick Shisia has dismissed claims that police officers executed Murang’a robber suspects while in custody.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, March 14, Shisia explained that the robbers died in a crossfire between the police and fellow gang members as they were taking the officers to their hideout.

“The officers insisted that the suspects show them where the firearms were and in the process, they had to go back to the forest to assist the officers to trace the guns. 

“Unfortunately, as the officers were moving into the forest looking for where the firearms may have been hidden, they were met by gunfire. This prompted the officers to take cover and engage the other group and I think it’s in the process that the two suspects were fatally injured. The issue that these suspects were killed by officers is not true,” Shisia explained.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on Monday issued a statement on the shootout noting that any officer found to have acted inappropriately would face consequences.

“IPOA has dispatched a Rapid Response Team from Nairobi, to beef up our Nyeri regional investigators. Upon conclusion of its investigations, the Authority shall take appropriate action including recommending to the Director of Public Prosecutions the prosecution of any person found culpable. In all its investigations, IPOA is impartial, fair and transparent,” the statement read in part.