Most wanted man linked to Mau Forest clashes arrested
Most wanted suspect over the killing of two herders that caused flare-ups in Olpusimoru Ward in Narok, Mr Joseph Kebenei, alias Kalyasoi Toltol, speaking to the press at his Ararwet home in Narok South, Feb 29, 2016. PHOTO | GEORGE SAYAGIE
What you need to know:
- Mr Kebenei was found drinking beer at a local pub in Salgaa.
- He is said to have formed a group described as a gang to safeguard “Mau settlers’ interests”.
- The fighting between communities happened after two herders and three cows were killed in the Maasai Mau forest just before Christmas.
- Interestingly, Mr Kebenei gave a media interview in February where he said he was going to surrender himself to the DCI.
Mau Forest’s most wanted man, Mr Joseph Kebenei, alias Kalyasoi TolTol, was finally arrested by criminal investigations detectives on Wednesday.
Mr Kebenei was intercepted at his hideout in Salgaa trading centre in Nakuru County before being escorted to Narok Police Station where he spent the night.
According to the Narok County Criminal Investigations Commander Mr John Muthusi, Mr Kebenei was found drinking beer at a local pub in the trading centre before he was arrested.
“The officers found him having fun with friends in a local bar in Salgaa. We have been tracking this man since January,” said Mr Muthusi.
Mr Muthusi said the suspect would appear in court on Thursday to face murder charges.
In January, Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery ordered police to arrest and charge Mr Kebenei with leading an armed gang in the Maasai Mau Forest.
This followed December clashes in Olpusimoru that left three people dead and several injured and many others displaced from their homes.
The fighting between communities happened after two herders and three cows were killed in the Maasai Mau forest just before Christmas.
The Interior CS was forced to visit the area following high tension and held meetings with the locals.
Mr Kebenei was then mentioned adversely in connection with the troubles between the communities as the man allegedly at the centre of the whole Mau controversy. It is here that Mr Nkaisseryissued the arrest orders.
Mr Kebenei is said to have formed a group described as a gang to safeguard “Mau settlers’ interests”.
The group was said to have strong backing from former powerful forces in the Kanu regime who had allegedly opposed attempts to evict squatters and settlers from the contested section of the Mau complex.
Interestingly, Mr Kebenei gave a media interview in February where he said he was going to surrender himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers for questioning.
In the interview, he denied the accusations levelled against him and said he was disturbed by utterances by the Interior CS that he wants him either dead or alive.
“This has traumatised me and my family,” he had said in an exclusive interview.
Sources indicate that police have in the last three months raided his former homes in Kass FM area of the Mau Forest and caves in the forest where they suspected he could have been hiding.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) had also announced that Mr Kebenei was using fake title deeds to dupe land buyers in the Olpusimoru section of the Mau Forest and had conned hundreds of settlers millions of shillings.
