- Aziz Ali, a man alleged to be an officer attached to former Sports CS Rashid Echesa, was charged alongside three other accused persons.
- The other accused persons are Koffi Bill Atinda, Kennedy Otieno and Kennedy Omwanda.
Image: CAROLYNE KUBWA
A police officer linked to a syndicate that robs Kenyans in Nairobi was on Monday charged with neglecting to surrender 14 blanks of ammunition and three tear canisters.
Aziz Ali, a man alleged to be an officer attached to former Sports CS Rashid Echesa, was charged alongside three other accused persons.
They all denied 13 counts of charges before Milimani senior principal magistrate Robinson Ondieki.
The other accused persons are Koffi Bill Atinda, Kennedy Otieno and Kennedy Omwanda.
Aziz was charged that on May 17, 2024, at Kizito area in Mwihoko in Kiambu county, being a police officer willfully neglected to surrender 14 blanks of ammunition to armory, a duty he was dutifully bound to perform under the National Police Service Act.
The officer faced another count that on the same date and place, he neglected to surrender three tear gas canisters to armory.
Atinda was charged that on May 15, 2024, along Narayan road in Parklands area within Nairobi City County, having been stopped at an official police road block, informed Inspector Onesmus Mutua and Inspector Yusuf Naiwet, persons employed in the Public Service as police officers, that he is an officer of the rank of a Captain in the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), information which would otherwise prevent the said police officers from arresting him and conducting a search on a motor vehicle.
Atinda also faced another count that on 16 May 16, 2024, at Traffic Nairobi area, police yard in Nairobi City County, without lawful authority or excuse, had in his possession two papers intended to resemble and pass as $200 serial number LB29632956X and thirteen (13) black unmarked papers knowing them to be forged.
Atinda was further charged that at unknown place and time, within the republic of Kenya, with intent to defraud, without lawful authority or excuse, made a certain document namely National Contraction Authority Contractor Annual Practicing License registration number 78661/W/1023 purporting it to be a genuine document duly issued by the National Contraction Authority, a fact you knew to be false.
The prosecution said Atinda was also found in possession of a Kenya Defense Forces sticker, the property of a disciplined force, which was being reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
He faced five other counts of making false documents.
Kennedy Otieno was separately charged that on May 16, 2024, at Jamhuri area in Nairobi City County, he had in his possession three test gas canisters, the property of a disciplined service namely Kenya Prison Service.
The prosecution said such property was being reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
Kennedy Omwanda was also accused that on May 16, 2024, at Kibera area in Nairobi City County, had in his possession one radio phone, make Motorola, the property of a disciplined service namely National Police Service, reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
Through their lawyers, Vincent Nyangawa, the accused persons pleaded for lenient bond terms.
Omwanda through the lawyer argued that he has a medical condition and he was discharged after surgery late last month.
The court heard that he needs specialised care.
"Your honour my client is not a flight risk as he has a known place of abode within Lavington area. He operates a fitness facility," the lawyer told the court.
Aziza's lawyer said he is a government official being a police officer.
"The fourth accused is an officer who was armed at the time of his arrest as he is attached to Mr Rashid Echesa. The firearm was confiscated. He cannot interfere with witnesses as most of the witnesses are police officers. Give them lenient bond terms," the lawyer urged court.
The DPP, however, opposed the released of the accused persons on bail saying they are likely to interfere with witnesses as they don't have a fixed place of abode.
The prosecution counsel added that the recovered firearm needs to be taken for further ballistic forensic expert analysis.
"The investigating officer needs time to confirm if the third accused person (Omwanda) is a firearm holder as he was also found with a firearm. He needs to get correct identification of some of the suspects as they were found with different identities," the prosecution said.
The court heard that the investigating officer is yet to record more statements and if released, the accused persons would likely interfere with witnesses.
"The matter is of national interest and the respondents are believed to be part of a big syndicate that commit robberies within Nairobi and other places. Most of the suspects have more than one fixed abode," the prosecution said.
The magistrate said he will make a ruling on bail application on May 22, 2024.
The accused persons have been remanded at Capital Hill Police Station.