Two police officers arrested for stealing, slaughtering a bull in Elgeyo Marakwet
Two police officers in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet have been arrested after they were accused of stealing and slaughtering a bull.
The two officers are accused of slaughtering the cow yesterday night at the Kaptagat Police Station.
At the same time, all the 30 police officers attached to the station including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Jarion Gitonga, were transferred late today afternoon.
Kaptagat locals raised alarm at 11pm yesterday, resulting in a huge crowd gathering at the police station and stopping the suspects from fleeing the scene of slaughter.
Residents who were among the first to arrive at the scene of crime said two police officers managed to vanish into darkness.
With their two suspects at the scene, angry locals lit bonfires at the police station compound until morning hours when the suspected officers were arrested and locked up in the same facility.
The angry residents, majority of them youths, barricaded all roads leading to and out of the police station as well as Eldoret Eldama Ravine Road, paralyzing transport from morning until around 3pm.
Confirming the incident on behalf of the Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander, Patrick Njoroge said the officers were busted slaughtering the cow at Kaptagat Police Station.
He noted that while the perpetrators escaped, some, including the two officers were positively identified and promptly arrested.
“There is an incident that happened yesterday night where a cow was reportedly being slaughtered at Kaptagat Police Station. Some of the perpetrators managed to escape but some were identified; including the two officers. They were arrested last night and are currently in police custody helping with investigations.” He stated.
Njoroge further called on the members of the public to provide more information that will aid in their investigations.
“For now, I would ask members of the public to help us with information. Those who have any grievances or information can come forward so that we can arrest all those who are involved.” He added.
The cow owner Josephine Kandie had reported that her cows went missing at around 6 pm before she later got information that there was a cow that had been slaughtered within Kaptagat Police Station lines and those found slaughtering had run away after noticing the angry members of the public approaching.
Irate members of the public staged demonstrations calling for the transfer of Kaptagat Police Station OCS.
This incident comes months after a police officer based in Marasabit County was arrested in connection with a series of crimes in Imenti North and Buuri West in Meru County.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Corporal Dominic Munene Peter was arrested after detectives discovered that he was working in cahoots with two notorious robberies with violence suspects.
