Some police officers have come to the defence of their colleague – whose arrest has sparked violent protests in Githurai 45 – over murder claims by an oversight agency.
Constable Titus Musili, fondly referred to as Katitu in Githurai 45, was arrested after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) accused him of shooting dead suspected criminals, Kenneth Kimani and Oscar Muchoki.
Musili was still in police cells on September 10 waiting the determination of the murder case. His colleagues want the charges dropped, claiming they are unhappy with the action taken by Ipoa.
“We are very bitter. Tobiko (Director of Public Prosecutions) should look into these allegations. Why is Ipoa taking us to court for killing criminals. Is the agency on the side of insecurity or security?†posed an officer attached to an elite squad.
He said Musili should have been promoted instead of being “punished†for doing a good job in Githurai, where he allegedly, single-handedly, managed to curb crime.
One of his tactics, according to colleagues, involved dressing like a woman then venturing into areas frequented by criminals.
“He would pretend to be on his way to the market early in the morning with a kiondoo on his back. The criminals would pounce only to regret later for hitting the wrong target,†said an officer.
On September 9, Githurai residents blocked the Thika Superhighway protesting Musili’s arrest. They commended the officer’s efforts to fight crime in the area.
His colleagues accused Ipoa of witch-hunt, threatening to stage a go-slow for fear of facing a similar fate.
“How do you expect the police to work under these circumstances? The fact that even residents are demonstrating is proof enough that Katitu was doing a good job,†said one officer.
Ipoa was established through an Act of Parliament in November 2011 to oversee the work of police.