At least 16 suspects were Thursday arrested in an operation launched in the Ndori area after a senior police officer was stoned to death during a crackdown on suspected illicit alcohol in Siaya County.
Police said the suspects led a team to a site where they had hidden a Ceska pistol that they robbed from the slain officer.
Also recovered was a handcuff the suspects had robbed inspector Simon Mwangi Kariuki of Ndori crime office after they killed him.
The firearm was with an empty magazine when it was recovered about six kilometers away from the scene of the murder, police said.
The suspects were rounded up in an overnight operation in the area that was triggered following the killing of Kariuki.
Nyanza regional police commander Patrick Tito said they are hunting for more suspects in the incident.
He termed mob lynching criminal.
“Mob lynching is criminal. They will face serious charges following the killing of the officer,” he said.
Kariuki was attacked by villagers as he and another officer arrested a notorious brew dealer in the area.
The gang also robbed the slain officer of his Ceska pistol which had nine bullets.
The incident happened Wednesday, March 13 evening.
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 the procession 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 locals 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 vanishing from the scene, police said. The weapon was recovered eight hours later.
Police said the woman who had been arrested was detained and is assisting in the probe and hunt for the attackers.
The 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 licenses and permits issued to manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcohol, revocation of all bar licenses 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 brews and narcotic drugs.
The meeting resolved that any public officials who resist these measures in the fight against illicit brews 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.
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