Three police constables were on Tuesday arrested after they reportedly harassed two university students, demanding a Sh100K bribe from each.
According to a police report from the Lang’ata police station, Victor Khisa, John Odhiambo and Timothy Otieno accosted Alvin Kyalo, a student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Robert Mutugi from Daystar University, at the T-Mall’s entrance who were from having lunch at Magharib building just nearby the mall.
The two were arrested by the officers, who were dressed in civilian clothes, over alleged possession of bhang.
Kyalo was then bundled into a white Toyota Vitz while Mutugi was taken into a silver Toyota Premio which had three occupants – one dressed in full jungle uniform and two others in civilian clothes.
“The two were held in the said vehicles for more than four hours. They were forced to call their parents and send one hundred thousand each in order to secure their release or be taken to custody, read part of the statement.
Mutugi was then escorted to a nearby M-Pesa agent where he was forced to withdraw some Ksh.10K he had received from his father and another Ksh.10K which he had with him.
He was then released.
Kyalo then contacted his mother, who reportedly works in the city center. When she arrived, the officers are said to have asked her to hand over Ksh.100,000 in order to secure her son’s release.
According to the police report, she also declined the request to get into a police vehicle, instead, asking to be allowed to withdraw money from the mall.
At the mall, she spotted officers on patrol and reported the matter, prompting police officers to action.
“She told them to wait for her as she withdrew the cash at t- mall. At T-Mall she met police officers from Nyayo police post who were on patrol and reported the incident. The officers rushed to where the two motor vehicles were parked and managed to arrest two suspects who were in the Vitz and rescued Kyalo,” stated the statement.
Four other occupants who were in the Premio managed to escape upon seeing the police.
During the operation, a KDF smoke jacket, a reflector jacket, and a radio set gadget, make Simoco were recovered.
According to the police report, one student complained of having been assaulted by the suspects.
After their arrests, it was discovered that the officers are attached to the K9 unit in Lang’ata.
They were detained at Langata police station pending their arraignment.
Meanwhile, a manhunt for the suspects who fled is on.
