A Nairobi court has authorised police to detain two Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel and four civilians for 10 days pending investigations into an alleged plot to rob and kill a senior military officer.
The suspects, military men Charles Kiio Matata and Samuel Agango Odoyo, and civilians David Ngaa Mwangangi, Alex Mumo Kisilu, Richard Mwania Muasya, and Stella Nzuki Mweni, appeared before Milimani Law Courts magistrate Paul Mutai on Thursday.
They are accused of conspiring to rob and eliminate Major General George Okumu.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects were allegedly working with other military personnel to attack Major General Okumu’s residence in Kitengela on March 25 when they were arrested.
Inspector George Karanja, a DCI officer attached to the Serious Crimes Unit, told the court that police received intelligence about the planned attack a week earlier.
The suspects were arrested after arriving at the scene in two vehicles, a black Toyota Harrier and a Toyota Ractis, during an intelligence-led operation.
“Upon arrival, a female suspect exited the Harrier and approached the main gate under the pretext of seeking entry. This prompted officers on the scene to move in and arrest her, after which backup teams intercepted both vehicles and detained the other accomplices,” Inspector Karanja said.
Items recovered
Police recovered items believed to be intended for the robbery, including KDF jungle uniforms, military boots, a crowbar, a claw hammer, a knife, pliers, tyre seals, and multiple mobile phones.
Inspector Karanja told the magistrate that Matata and Odoyo were confirmed as serving KDF personnel, while Mwangangi is a civilian mechanic employed at Kahawa Barracks.
The remaining suspects are civilians, with some allegedly in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle.
He said police needed additional time to interrogate the suspects, record witness statements, and carry out parallel investigations involving military departments.
“The suspects were arrested late in the evening, and there was insufficient time to interrogate them fully,” Inspector Karanja said.
“Given the targeted person is a military officer, investigations require liaison with key institutions, which may take considerable time.”
Further interrogations
The DCI also said the suspects would be questioned by a multi-agency team to establish the motive behind the robbery and determine whether they are linked to other criminal activities. Upon completion, the investigation file will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
While the military suspects did not oppose the detention, Muasya, through his lawyer, applied to be released on bond, questioning the legality of military personnel interrogating a civilian.
In a statement issued on March 26, the DCI confirmed that the arrests were made during a pre-emptive, intelligence-led operation.
“Detectives have foiled a planned robbery targeting a senior military officer in Kitengela, arresting six suspects in an intelligence-led operation involving a criminal syndicate of serving KDF members and civilian accomplices,” the agency said.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the full scope of the syndicate’s activities and any links to other crimes.
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