Police in Murang'a on Monday, January 3, 2022, shot and killed a 20-year-old allegedly wanted for rape, robbery with violence, and repeated escapes from jail.
At around 9 am on Monday, police received a call that the suspect since identified as Andrew Makai, had raided a home with a toy gun and abducted a 12-year-old girl.
Confirming the incident, Murang'a South Sub-County Police Commander Alexander Shikondi stated that police responded to the call and caught up with Makai as he forced the girl into an abandoned building.
File image of Andrew Makai. |Photo| Courtesy|
"We challenged him to stop and release the girl but he drew the weapon from his waist and charged at the officers while aiming. Police officers fired at him to immobilise him and one bullet hit his lower mid-abdomen," he said.
The police boss stated that the 9mm calibre bullet hit Makai from 10 metres out and brought him to the ground.
Shikondi revealed that police recovered a machete and some household items believed to have been stolen from the abandoened house.
Makai died while undergoing treatment at the Maragua Level Four Hospital and his body was moved to Murang'a County Mortuary for post-mortem.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the 20-year-old suspect had been arrested last year for gang rape and has two separate defilement charges, pending before Kigumo Law courts.
Consequently, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the same court.
Makai broke out of jail together with robbery with violence suspect David Ndung’u Kung'u, who had earlier escaped from the same station but rearrested. The two had been remanded at the station owing to Covid-19 protocols in prisons.
Shikondi told the Nation that the suspect had committed 4 more defilements, 3 robberies, and 2 break-ins.
"We have the files ready, complete with victim and witness statements. We have been laying ambush to nab him but he has been elusive. But today we were lucky," he said.
The police boss called out the area residents for failing to take action despite witnessing the suspect attempt to rape the girl he had abducted.
"It is totally unacceptable for a whole neighbourhood to watch as a girl is abducted to be defiled. But we are happy for those who called us. Citizens should be more proactive in securing their neighbourhoods. One suspect cannot overpower a whole estate," he said.
An eyewitness at the scene stated that gangsters in the area often target people they suspect are ratting them out to the police.
"This suspect came in the morning while riding a motorcycle. He said he wanted a girl he had seen the previous night. He showed us a pistol and said he would not hesitate to kill anyone who protested. I retreated into the house and called the police, warning them that he was armed," said a neighbour.
Shikondi stated that police in the area are hot on the heels of the gang members and would not rest until they bring all of them to book.
