In a world where trust in law enforcement is paramount, the fall of police officers from grace to incarceration serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities within the justice system.
Once hailed as protectors of the peace, some officers have found themselves on the other side of the law, facing charges including violent crimes.
In this article, WoK delves into the stories of these fallen officers, examining how their paths diverged from service to scandal.
Nahashon Mutua
Mutua, the former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Ruaraka, has been sentenced to death for the murder of a suspect in police custody.
The case stems from an incident on October 19, 2013, when Martin Koome was arrested following a domestic dispute.
While in custody, Koome was brutally assaulted by Mutua, who used a metal bar and submerged his head in water, leading to severe injuries that ultimately resulted in Koome’s death hours later at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The High Court found that Mutua’s actions demonstrated malice aforethought, as witnesses testified to the prolonged beating that lasted over 30 minutes.
In an attempt to cover up his actions, Mutua initially implicated another inmate, Kelvin Odhiambo, who was later exonerated and became a key witness against him.
The Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Mutua’s crime and the need for accountability within law enforcement.
Stephen Lelei
Lelei was recognized for his heroic actions during the Westgate Mall terror attack in September 2013.
As the OCS of Kabete Police Station, he was among the first responders to the attack, leading efforts to rescue hostages and confront the assailants.
For his bravery, Lelei was awarded a Silver Star by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Despite his initial acclaim, Lelei’s career took a controversial turn as he faced serious legal challenges, including charges of murder related to the deaths of Jacob Mwenda and Elizabeth Nduku in 2016.
Although a ballistic expert testified that none of the officers’ firearms were used in the killings, his reputation suffered significantly due to these allegations and ongoing investigations into police misconduct during his tenure.
Lelei’s life ended recently due to health complications, leaving behind a legacy marked by both valor and controversy.
Chibungu Sanga
Sanga, a former police officer, was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of Gregory Kingori Kanyi.
The incident occurred on March 8, 2015, during an attempted arrest in Mukurweini, Nyeri County.
Justice Martin Muya ruled that Sanga used excessive force when he shot Kanyi, who had allegedly threatened him with a machete.
However, the court determined that the prosecution did not establish malice aforethought necessary for a murder conviction, leading to the reduction of charges from murder to manslaughter.
Sanga’s defense claimed self-defense, stating that he fired into the air before shooting Kanyi in the chest.
The court, however, found inconsistencies in this claim and noted that witnesses did not corroborate the presence of a machete at the scene.
Titus Musila
Musila, also known as Katitu, gained notoriety for his involvement in the shooting death of Kenneth Kimani Mwangi in 2013.
He was well-regarded in the Githurai community for his efforts to combat crime, which led to public protests following his arrest.
In January 2018, Musila was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison by High Court Judge James Wakiaga.
The judge criticized Musila for using excessive force rather than arresting the suspect.
Despite his popularity, the court emphasized that no officer has the right to take a life without justification under the law.
Musila maintained that he shot in self-defense while pursuing a suspect who had stolen a mobile phone but was ultimately found guilty of unlawful killing.
Fredrick Ole Leliman
Leliman was convicted for his role in the extrajudicial killings of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda, and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri in June 2016.
The three were abducted after attending a court hearing related to a case involving Mwenda, who had previously accused Leliman of shooting him during a traffic stop.
On July 22, 2022, Leliman, along with two other officers, Stephen Cheburet and Sylvia Wanjiku, was found guilty of murder.
The court determined that the trio had been tortured and killed, with their bodies later discovered in the Ol-Donyo Sabuk River.
Leliman was sentenced to death, while Cheburet received 30 years in prison and Wanjiku 24 years.
A police informer involved in the plot, Peter Ngugi, was sentenced to 20 years.
Paul Kipkoech Rotich
Rotich, a former police constable, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for defiling a 15-year-old girl at the Gatundu police station in Kiambu County.
The incident occurred on January 13, 2018, when the girl was in custody for what authorities described as “need of care and protection.”
Her mother had handed her over to the police the night before the assault.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) initiated an investigation following the incident with 11 witnesses, including IPOA Investigators, presented during the trial.
In delivering the judgment, Principal Magistrate H.M. Ng’ang’a emphasized that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Rotich committed the offense.
