British national arrested after drone strays into Ruto’s Karen residence
A British national has been arrested after his drone allegedly ‘strayed’ into Deputy President William Ruto’s residence in Karen, Nairobi.
The incident occurred yesterday evening and the foreigner identified as Heids Jeremy was traced and questioned before he surrendered the drone.
Nairobi county regional commander Augustine Nthenge said the incident was reported by Mrs. Rachel Ruto at around 3pm after she witnessed a drone hovering over their residence.
“It strayed into the compound in Hardy. She called the police and responded very fast and confiscated the drone. Investigations are ongoing,” said Nthumbi.
Police rushed to the home in Hardy and realized the drone had flown back to the DP’s neighbour.
Nthumbi allayed fears the drone was a danger to the DP and his family.
The DP was not at his home at the time of the incident.
Teams from Anti-Terror Police (ATPU), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and National Intelligence Service (NIS) arrived at the home and took possession of the gadget.
They are analysing the memory cards recovered from the drone to see if it has any useful information to their probe.
The team asked him to explain the mission of the drone and he explained it had been brought there by visitors who had come to his house.
“He says the gadget was brought to his house by visitors who wanted to take pictures of his new home there as a present to him. Nothing more so far,” said Nthumbi.
Jeremy said he has been staying there for more than three years and knows the DP as his neighbour.
Police said they had realized the owner had registered the device but did not know it is wrong to fly it on private premises.
The decision by police to go public on the incident was informed by concerns from some quarters who felt it was not being given the needed attention.
Nthumbi however said there was no cause for panic on the security of the DP and his family.
