Eastern Regional Commander Rono Bunei on Tuesday, April 11, confirmed that the National Police Service (NPS) had apprehended a law enforcement officer accused of shooting of Willis Kiraku Mugambi, the Tharaka Nithi County Bodaboda Association chairman.
While addressing residents, Bunei indicated that the Chuka Officer Commanding Station (OCS) had been transferred.
Bunei also told residents that the County Commander had been moved after a series of protests over the shooting incident.
"That police officer who shot the chairman, as I leave here, he will be behind bars," Bunei stated.
"Someone from Eldoret is coming to be a County Commander here. I have also brought in another OCS," Bunei added.
Further, Bunei warned over cases of bribery between boda boda riders and traffic police officers, maintaining that lawbreakers will be dealt with accordingly.
He raised concerns over the issue of illicit brew in the Tharaka Nithi region. Bunei argued that brokers were working in cahoot with area police bosses to support the illegal trade.
His sentiments came after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki deployed detectives and more police officers to investigate the incident that triggered protests in Chuka Town.
"Tonight, high-level investigative teams have been dispatched to Chuka Town to take over the inquiry and recommend legal action on those found responsible for the death of one person last week, as well as a second person, shot dead during the demonstrations that caused the blocking of the Embu- Meru Highway most of the afternoon today," Kindiki stated on Sunday, April 9.
Before Kindiki intervened, locals had staged demonstrations and blocked the road with a casket. They demanded justice for what they termed extra-judicial killing.
Following the incident, Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), launched investigations.
"Our regional office has this morning dispatched a Rapid Response Team to launch investigations into the death," IPOA's statement read in part.
"Upon conclusions of the investigations, the authority shall take appropriate action, including recommending to the Director of Public Prosecutions the prosecution of any person found culpable," the authority added.
