The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced that six suspects involved in the raiding and torching of Meru police stations were arraigned at the Maua Law Courts on Thursday where they were denied bail.
According to the DCI, the suspects, David Kaberia Kobia, Felix Kimathi Mutheria, Benard Mutuma alias Toto, Pius Ntongai, Eliud Mukiri Kalatu, and Erastus Mwenda Kaibutia, allegedly incited at least 500 mourners on December 6 at a 16-year-old boy’s funeral in Muringene, Igembe Central, to raid Antubeiga police station, where they stole a loaded AK47 rifle and set both the exhibit store and a female officer’s house ablaze.
Erastus Mwenda, who was in possession of the stolen rifle later on, led the mob to Muringene Police Station, where they attacked officers and freed all prisoners before destroying all the station’s stationery and furniture. They then shattered the window panes of the police line and the chief’s office.
“The heads of security in the region established that the occurrences were well-calculated moves by some die-hard criminals who were out to rob police firearms and further their felonious strikes in the region,” DCI stated.
The DCI then launched a manhunt and captured all six suspects in different parts of the Meru region.
“On December 10, the detectives embarked on a search for the missing rounds of ammunition, 14 of which were found buried a safe distance outside the VIP Bar located along the Maua-Kangeta road, which is owned by Eliud Mukiri. The search for the missing 15 rounds is ongoing,” DCI stated.
Additionally, the unit revealed that Bernard Mutuma Toto, Felix Kimathi, and Eliud Mukiri are all accomplices in the pending murder case at Meru High Court. They will also be presented to the High Court.
The next hearing in their case is scheduled for January 10, 2024.