A suspect who has been on the police radar for more than two years for allegedly establishing a criminal network in Murang’a christened 'Jeshi ya Gaica', was arrested on Monday, April 5.
John Ngugi Maina, was put on the police “wanted” list and a Ksh50,000 bounty had been placed on his head.
Maina was profiled to have engaged in tens of murders, violent robberies, rapes, and peddling illicit brews and narcotics.
On the night of his arrest, it is reported that he had sneaked to check on his wife but he attracted the attention of residents when he sauntered into his house, drunk and singing.
Alfred Keter, Murang’a South Police boss confirmed the 2am arrest at the suspect’s home in Maica Ma Thi village where they dragged him from under his bed.
“Alcoholism is not a good thing but this is one moment that we as a police unit are unreservedly appreciating it.
“The suspect had sneaked in to check on his wife while drunk and as he approached the gate to his home, he started singing war songs in his drunken stupor. That is how we were tipped that our target was around,” he said.
According to Keter, the suspect hid under the bed and attempted to dislodge bricks from the wall to find an escape route but the plan was thwarted.
Keter further revealed that at least five residents tipped them about Maina and the first caller was rewarded with the bounty.
However, the other four were awarded Ksh2,000 each to show appreciation for their commitment to the rule of law in the principle of community policing.
The police boss further said that on Tuesday March 30, the police had confronted Maina as he was administering an illegal oath to three young men to initiate them into his gang.
“We fired a shot at him when he took a bow and arrows to confront my officers. In our restraint to fatally confront him, he escaped and we arrested the three lads he was indoctrinating into his gang aged 14, 17 and 19 years,” Mr Keter said.
Charles Mwangi, Ichagaki ward rep applauded the arrest terming it as a major breakthrough in security in the area.
Mwangi said the suspect had become the word and the law to extent of threatening the area assistant chief to avoid patrolling Maragua town, terming it as his territory.
