Police in Kirinyaga have arrested a 21-year-old man, who yesterday briefly kidnapped a Kerugoya senior principal magistrate.
The man, Peter Mugo, managed to get into Juliet Kassim’s compound through a fence after her police guards had left the compound in the morning.
Kirinyaga police boss David Bunei said Mugo was armed with a knife.
He allegedly threatened to kill Kassim if she raised the alarm.
Bunei said Mugo demanded Kassim’s ATM card pin and tied her hands with a rope.
“Immediately she opened the door the assailant forced himself inside,” he said.
Mugo forced Kassim to lie down as he ransacked the house.
He is then said to have bundled her in the boot of her car.
The 8am assault caused panic when Kassim raised the alarm, attracting AP officers who were manning a bank adjacent to her house.
They called the police.
Kassim was held hostage for about 30 minutes before she was rescued.
Bunei said police suspect the assailant was working with more individuals, who escaped after the magistrate raised the alarm.
“The suspect is helping with the investigations,” Bunei said.
“Kassim was not injured but she was shaken by the ordeal, being a victim of an attempted kidnap.”
The early morning incident caused panic at the High Court, disrupting normal business.
Resident judge Boaz Olao rushed to the scene and condemned the action.
Bunei said investigations have started.
