Six suspects, allegedly involved in the daring breaking into a police armoury and stealing a loaded AK47 rifle during a riotous mob incident on December 6, 2023, have been arraigned at Maua Law Courts following the conclusion of a thorough investigation by detectives.
Among the accused—David Kaberia Kobia, Felix Kimathi Mutheria, Benard Mutuma alias Toto, Pius Ntongai, Eliud Mukiri Kalatu, and Erastus Mwenda Kaibutia—it is believed that they incited over 500 mourners at a 16-year-old boy's funeral in Muringene, Igembe Central.
The mob subsequently raided Antubeiga Police Post, stealing the rifle and setting the exhibit store and a female officer's house ablaze.
Armed with the stolen rifle held by Erastus Mwenda, the mob proceeded to Muringene Police Station, where they subdued officers, facilitated prisoner escapes, and vandalized the station's property.
Security officials in the region determined that these events were carefully orchestrated by hardened criminals with the intention of acquiring police firearms for further illicit activities.
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Specialized units from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters, including Crime Research and Operations detectives, collaborated with their Meru counterparts in a rigorous manhunt for the suspects.
On December 8, Erastus Mwenda was apprehended in Nanyuki, leading detectives to VIP Bar in Nturuba Market, Igembe Central.
In one of the rooms occupied by Felix Kimathi, a concealed pistol was discovered.
Felix Kimathi admitted, upon arrest and interrogation, that the firearm belonged to his accomplice, Eliud Mukiri Kalatu.
A subsequent profiling by the crime research team revealed that Eliud Mukiri was implicated in an ongoing murder case at the Meru High Court.
On December 9, intelligence led detectives to a homestead at Kiengu sub-county in Igembe South, where Eliud Mukiri, 30, and Bernard Mutuma Kobia alias Toto, 28, were arrested.
Detectives suspected the duo of possessing the stolen police rifle.
A search at Thangaa Prayer Mountain led to the recovery of the rifle buried in a gunny bag, indicating the suspects' connection to the criminal act.
Further investigations on December 10 resulted in the discovery of 14 missing rounds of ammunition buried near the VIP Bar along the Maua-Kangeta road, owned by Eliud Mukiri.
The search for the remaining 15 rounds is currently ongoing.
During the plea-taking, detectives established that Bernard Mutuma Toto, Felix Kimathi, and Eliud Mukiri are accomplices in a pending murder case at Meru High Court.
Felix and Toto, who had been on the run, will also be presented to the High Court.
Despite a bond request, Maua Law Courts denied bail to the six suspects, scheduling the case mentioned for January 10, 2024.
The DCI expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation and reiterated their commitment to delivering justice within the framework of the law.
