Officer hacked as suspected MRC gangsters raid station

A five-man gang suspected on Sunday attacked and seriously injured a police officer in at Frere Town Police Patrol Base booth in Mombasa.

The night attack, according to Kisauni OCPD Julius Wanjohi, happened when one of the gangsters suspected to be Mombasa Republican Council members went at the booth posing as somebody in need of help.

It was at this junction that others emerged and cornered the officer attacking him with machetes and causing grave injuries on his head, chest and stomach.

In the ensuring commotion, the attackers snatched the officer’s G3 rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition before escaping into the sprawling neighbourhood.

Speaking outside Jocham Hospital where the officer was rushed for medical attention, Mr Wanjohi said they were pursuing leads but they had not arrested any suspect by mid-day.

“We have crucial leads, and believe we will soon get those behind the dawn attack,” he said.

Reminded this was the second attack in five months, the OCPD was at pains to explain why there were only two officers manning the police booth.

“At any given time there is an average of eight police officers here (booth) so it is adequately manned,” he said and called on members of the public to help in tracking down the attackers.

Accompanied by the Kisauni district commissioner Tom Anjere, the Nyali MP Hezron Awiti Bolo expressed concern over the spate of police attacks.

“Every month we hear of a police officer being attacked but for how long will this continue, and what about the common people?” he asked.

Elsewhere, gunmen carjacked a senior traffic officer on Saturday night and robbed her of cash and police radio in Ngong.

Chief Inspector Belvin Wanjiru Namu was driving home in Nkoroi at around 10pm when she was blocked by five men armed with AK47 rifles. The attackers had parked a pick up beside the road.

They drove with her up to Ololua in Matasia where the vehicle broke down. They then removed the car’s ignition key and abandoned her before driving away in their vehicle.

A team of police officers has been mobilised to hunt down the attackers and know the motive. Last week, another resident was attacked at the same spot.

Due to the rising crime in the city especially targeting matatus, the police chief has called a meeting today of senior police officers and matatu operators.

Central provincial police officer Larry Kieng has also vowed to crack down on criminal gangs that have been terrorising residents of Gatundu in Kiambu County.

He attributed the recent wave of criminal activities in the area to abuse of alcohol. Mr Kieng was speaking during at the Gatundu district headquarters where he held security meetings.

Reports by Mwakera Mwajeffa, Oliver Musembi and Angira Zadock