Police arrest 500 in Eastleigh daytime swoop

 

In Summary

• Most suspects arrested in Eastleigh did not have appropriate identification documents and were detained in several police stations.
• police said that they experienced challenges due to the big population in the neighbourhood and also the fact that most residents were not willing to cooperate with the police.
• The police boss also said that other security operations were being conducted in Baringo, West Pokot and Turkana Counties and had started yielding success.

By ZADOCK ANGIRA
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Police Saturday launched a security operation during the day in Nairobi's Eastleigh estate where about 500 suspects were arrested.

The joint operation, led by Nairobi county deputy police commander Moses Ombati, involved door-to door searches.

The Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo Saturday said that police had adopted a multi-pronged approach to fighting terror and other forms of crime.

He revealed that the operations were prompted by the continuous attacks, and that another team of detectives was also in Eastleigh conducting intelligence-led covert operations.

“This national operation will continue until every Kenyan is safe and we are not relenting,” said Mr Kimaiyo,” he said.

The officers were drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), the Administration Police and their regular counterparts, and those from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)

Most suspects arrested did not have appropriate identification documents and were detained in several police stations.

Some of the fake Identity cards appeared similar implying that they were being produced by the same cartel.

Mr Kimaiyo also said that investigations would be launched to establish those who issued documents to undeserving people.

“We will also target those who issued the identification documents illegally and those involved in human trafficking,” warned the police boss.

RECEIVING BRIBES

There have been complaints that some police officers involved in the operation were receiving bribes and Mr Kimaiyo urged the officers to handle the members of the public professionally and with a humane face.

“Those who will be caught receiving and giving bribes during operation will face the law,” he warned.

However, police said that they experienced challenges due to the big population in the neighbourhood and also the fact that most residents were not willing to cooperate with them.

He advised Kenyans to take advantage of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s two-week amnesty and surrender the illegal firearms.

(Read: Surrender or else. . . Uhuru warns gangs)

“The Operation Usalama Watch is moving with speed to implement the president’s directive to the letter. Criminals and terrorists will not have a place in this country, and they better surrender,” he warned.

The police boss also said that other security operations were being conducted in Baringo, West Pokot and Turkana Counties and had started yielding success.

On Friday, police arrested three suspects and recovered seven rifles, among them three G3 rifles which were stolen from police officers who were killed in Baragoi and four AK 47 illicit weapons.

“We also managed to recover 207 rounds of ammunition,” said the police boss.

However, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer was killed and two others injured by suspected rustlers in Baringo.

(Read: GSU officer shot dead, two injured by rustlers in Baringo)

Mr Kimaiyo said that the officers were on their way to Marigat after recovering goats and cows which had been stolen at Kapindasum area in Baringo South Sub-County.