- The suspect, Samuel Mwangi Maina popularly known as ‘Wagathanwa’ was arrested in Kenol town on Thursday evening.
- He is accused of breaking into homes armed with an axe and a bottle containing petrol.
Image: Alice Waithera
Police officers in Murang’a County have arrested a man suspected to have been behind a spate of robberies in several parts of the county,
The suspect, Samuel Mwangi Maina popularly known as ‘Wagathanwa’ was arrested in Kenol town on Thursday evening.
He is accused of breaking into homes armed with an axe and a bottle containing petrol.
The suspect, victims said, would break window panes and cut off the grills with the axe and would use the opening to gain access into homes.
Victims said once in the house, the man would demand for mobile phones and money, threatening to burn down the home if they failed to cooperate.
In several instances, the suspect left people nursing injuries after attacking them with the axe even after they gave him money.
The man victims described as heavily built and barefooted is now in the custody of police officers and is being held at Murang’a police station.
County Police Commander David Mathiu confirmed the arrest saying eight victims have already recorded statements.
He said police officers have been in pursuit of the criminal since the attacks started three weeks ago and that they tracked his movements until they got him.
He pointed out that the suspect is from the Maragua Ridge area in Murang’a South Sub-county but that his relatives claim to not have seen him for some time.
The police boss said the suspect has been raiding homes and then disappearing for a few days before raiding others.
He confirmed that Wagathanwa’s hide-out is in a slum in Nairobi county.
“This is a serious criminal who has been involved in serious crimes like robberies and has been applying strategies like carrying an axe and petrol to break into homes."
“The victims have positively identified the suspect in an identification parade and he is being processed for arraignment,” he said, noting that they are waiting for more victims to come forward.
Mathiu sought to assure residents that the county is safe and that they should go about their daily activities without fear.
Meanwhile, police officers gunned down a man suspected to have been robbing a petrol station in Kandara on Wednesday.
“As our officers were patrolling, they got some information that there were four suspicious people who had gone to a petrol station attempting to demolish its wall to steal money from a safe,” he said.
Mathiu said the officers moved swiftly and gave the criminals a chase after they fled.
But the criminals fired at police officers prompting them to return fire that hit one of the thugs.
“He was dressed in military attire and had dangerous weapons. They masqueraded as military officers to talk their way into the station."
The criminals tied security guards’ hands against an object to immobilize them and perpetrate the crime that was thwarted by police officers with Mathiu saying that they are looking for his accomplices.
Mathiu further noted that security agents are sustaining the fight against illicit brews, drugs and contrabands until they are eradicated.
He however appealed to the county government to help control traders who operate bars near learning institutions by denying them licenses.
Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure vowed to ensure peddlers who target school-going children are dealt with with the same intensity used to combat terrorism and bandits.