A police officer was on Tuesday evening arrested following a botched robbery during demonstrations in Kibera estate.The officer, who was previously attached to Mandera Police Station, had deserted his job and a warrant of arrest had been issued against him.
Moses Buluma, while in the company of another gangster, reportedly attacked a businesswoman on her way to the bank to deposit Sh490,000 and threatened her with a pistol.
The two ordered the victim to surrender the bag carrying the money when members of the public raised an alarm and overpowered the gang.
Confirming the incident, Nairobi Police Commandant Japheth Koome said that one of the robbers was lynched by the public but Buluma was rescued, with authorities recovering a firearm.
“The firearm he had, however, did not belong to any of the security agencies,” stated Koome.
During the arrest, security agents also managed to discover the suspect’s Police Certificate of Appointment and one round of ammunition.
Officials from Mandera County also affirmed that the officer used to work in the area but had abandoned duty.
Security officials are said to be grappling with increasing cases of servicemen being involved in crime ranging from armed robberies to extortion and kidnappings.
On Saturday, five officers were apprehended in Nairobi on suspicion of abducting a Chinese national working on the Standard Gauge Railway project and demanding a Sh1 Million ransom.