A multi-agency team raided Kiambu Police Station, on Tuesday, August 17 evening, and arrested four police officers accused of robbery with violence.
The team, comprising of County Commander, the County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) Kiambu, Sub County Police Commander Ruiru, the Officer Commanding Station Ruiru and a team of detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Kiambu picked and detained the four officers for questioning over the allegations.
A social media user accused the four police officers, all in the rank of Police Constable, of withdrawing money from his phone after apprehending and handcuffing him for allegedly violating the curfew restrictions in early August 2021.
The victim claimed that one of the officers asked him for his mobile money pin, checked his balance (Ksh1100) and transferred Ksh1,030 to another number before deleting the messages. This was to stop the man from initiating a reversal.
He added that he went back to the office, attempted to call the telco but they could not reverse the money as it had already been spent by the receiver.
“I had no other money on me and was forced to spend my night in the office. I am a hard working Kenyan, I am no criminal or thief. Violating the curfew is wrong, but does it call for such violation of my rights, and any other Kenyans?," posed the social media user.
“Since when did a police officer stealing from me become a remedy for whatever crime I may have committed? One, taking control of my phone, demanding for the pin is a violation of my privacy, my data and confidentiality," the aggrieved party posted on social media and tagged the names of the police officers involved.
Following the complaint that was recorded at Kiambu Police Station at 8 am on Tuesday, August 17, a follow up was done by the multi-agency team which requested the court to allow it to petition the telco for data in regards to the phone numbers recorded in the complaint.
"Upon scrutiny of the data the accused officers were arrested and will be charged with the offence of robbery with violence contrary to Section 295 and Section 296 (2)of the Penal Code upon completion of investigations," the police report read.
A businessman cum mobile money shop owner and his operator were also arrested as accomplices of the police officers.
"The duo is aiding the police in investigations," the report added.
