- The mob attacked and killed the officer before snatching his pistol and vanished from the scene.
- A team of police officers was later sent to the area to recover the weapon and arrest those behind the fatal attack.
Image: THE STAR
A senior police officer was Wednesday stoned to death during an operation to recover suspected illicit alcohol in Ndori, Rarieda, Siaya County.
Inspector Simon Mwangi Kariuki of Ndori police station was attacked by villagers as he and another officer arrested a suspected illicit brew dealer in the area.
Kariuki’s Ceska pistol is missing after it was snatched from him in the Wednesday, March 13, evening drama.
A team of police officers was later sent to the area to recover the weapon and get those behind the fatal attack.
Police discourage mob lynching and term it criminal.
They want suspects arrested and surrendered to authorities for processing.
In the incident, Kariuki who has been in charge of the crime branch and his colleague booked and proceeded to a scene to arrest a woman who was found in possession of illicit brew at Oyude market.
This is part of an ongoing operation against suspected illicit brew and drugs.
The officers arrested the woman with 21 sachets of the said alcohol and four packets of cigarettes that they said were for export.
In the process, the woman raised an alarm alerting the residents who raced to her rescue by stonning the two officers.
They also used crude weapons to attack the officers killing Kariuki on the spot as his colleague escaped for his life but with injuries.
Kariuki fired five bullets into the air to scare the mob in vain.
The mob attacked and killed him before snatching his pistol and vanished from the scene.
When news of the death spread out contingents of police officers including senior ones from Siaya rushed to the scene.
They demanded the weapon be handed back even as the hunt for those behind the incident.
Police said the woman who had been arrested was detained and is assisting in the probe and hunt for the attackers.
The officer's body was moved to Lwak Mission Hospital mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.
The government has announced a number of measures to address the menace of alcoholism and abuse of drugs.
This has, however, elicited mixed reactions with some villagers resisting the measures.
The Cabinet Wednesday endorsed measures the government has taken in the fight against illegal brews and narcotic drugs.
These measures, announced by the Interior Ministry, include a 21-day suspension of all 52 licences and permits issued to manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcohol, revocation of all bar licences issued by counties against the law and an audit of conflict of interest within the ranks of enforcement agencies.
Other measures are nationwide crackdowns on the sale, transportation, distribution and consumption of illicit brew and narcotic drugs.
The meeting resolved that any public officials who resist the measures against the fight on illicit brew and drugs will be violating Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws on conflict of interest.
These include officials in the National Police Service, National Administration, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, public health and public prosecution, among others.
The cabinet meeting was informed that since officials started implementing these measures, 2,393 non-compliant premises, 359 pharmacies and chemists and 452 agro-vets have been closed.
At a meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi on Wednesday, the Cabinet was informed that 5,835 raids on illicit and narcotic premises have been conducted, 289,390 litres of illicit brew and 13,198 litres of counterfeit alcohol have been netted.
Additionally, seven vessels for trafficking drugs, 3,603 rolls of bhang and 44 stones have been seized.
Noting the increased cases of addiction to alcohol and drugs, the cabinet directed the Ministry of Health to prepare a framework for rehabilitation wards in all Level Five Hospitals.
The ministry was also directed to closely work with county governments and ensure each county has a rehabilitation centre.