Police have arrested a man and recovered a trove of stolen property, including motorcycles and electronics, in a raid triggered by the mob killing of his alleged accomplice in Kisumu.
Acting on intelligence, officers from Gita Police Station arrested James Kenneth Otieno, believed to be part of a gang terrorizing the area.
According to a DCI statement, the hunt for Otieno intensified after his alleged accomplice, Hussein Hassan, was lynched by a public mob on January 23rd while in possession of a stolen motorcycle.
“Police officers domiciled at Gita Police Station, Kisumu East Sub-County, have arrested a man believed to be part of a gang that had turned residents’ lives into a nightmare in Kisumu and its surrounding areas,” read part of the DCI statement.
Following leads, police stormed Otieno’s house in Kajulu Gardens, Konya sub-location. Inside, they recovered three motorcycles, a 65-inch Hisense television, a 12kg gas cylinder, a double-burner cooker, assorted mobile phones, and motorcycle spare parts.
Some items have already been identified by relieved victims. Otieno is in custody awaiting arraignment, while other recovered goods are held as exhibits for owner identification.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) used the operation to issue a stark warning against vigilante justice.
They stated that Hassan’s lynching denied investigators a crucial suspect and potential source of information, ultimately obstructing justice.
They further urged the public to report information to the police and allow the legal system to run its course.
