By Kelly Mumbi
A manhunt is in progress for assailants who attacked Bondo Police Station yesterday, armed with makeshift weapons such as stones, catapults, slings, petrol bombs, and other hidden arms. They severely injured several officers and caused extensive property damage.
One suspect, Sostine Otieno, has already been arrested. He was captured in a phone recording assaulting a police officer, stealing his anti-riot gun (launcher), and has since been detained with the weapon recovered. Efforts to apprehend his identified accomplices are intensifying.
“Already, one of the suspects (Sostine Otieno) captured in a phone recording attacking a police officer and leaving him sprawled on the tarmac before robbing him of his anti-riot gun (launcher) has been arrested and the gun recovered, as pursuit for his accomplices who have since been identified heightens,” stated DCI.
The officer, saved by good Samaritans, is in critical condition at a Bondo hospital. Most other injured officers and civilians have been discharged.
This incident follows the DCI’s recent release of images of individuals wanted for illegal activities during the anti-finance bill 2024 protests, which saw widespread property destruction by criminal elements, security forces nationwide detained numerous suspects: 204 in Nairobi, 35 in the Coastal region, 18 in Nyanza, 11 in Rift Valley, and 4 in Eastern regions.
The DCI has deployed thorough investigators to track down suspects caught on CCTV and mobile recordings committing crimes. They have also appealed to property and business owners with CCTV footage of the crimes to allow Imaging and Acoustic Unit detectives to retrieve the footages for justice. They also encouraged those with relevant footage on their devices to submit it to any DCI office.
The DCI have also reminded offenders that they will face justice individually and assures the public that investigations adhere to criminal justice system standards and have advised these individuals to report to the nearest police station for further action.