GSU officer, 2 others arrested over ‘attempted abduction’

Police in Mombasa have arrested a General Service Unit (GSU) officer accused of attempting to kidnap a Safaricom employee based in Malindi, Kilifi County.

The GSU officer, Kevin Komora, is said to have kidnapped Linda Baya when she was leaving work on Friday, December 27.

Police say Komora waited for Baya outside her workplace, and when she was leaving for home around 5pm, he approached and told her that her friend, who was in his vehicle, wanted to say hi to her.

Baya agreed to follow Komora to his vehicle, where she saw one Grace Wairimu, the said-friend. Also in the car, was another man who police identified as Omari Manguza.

While in the car, Wairimu, who had lent Baya a loan of Ksh600, 000, said she wanted her money back.

After Baya told Wairimu that she did not have the money, Komora allegedly ignited the car and started driving away. All the four were aboard the vehicle.

Baya said she thought that Wairimu was taking her to Malindi Police Station to file a report in regard to the unpaid loan.

“I was, however, confused and scared the moment I saw the vehicle taking the route to Mombasa,” Baya told police.

Baya said Komora, Manguza and Wairimu threatened to kill and dump her body many kilometers away from Malindi.

While in transit, Baya texted Safaricom’s chief security officer, informing him about what had transpired.

The telecommunications company’s security boss alerted police. In the information to law enforcement agents, the Safaricom officer gave out the registration plate number of the vehicle used in the alleged kidnap.

The plate number and other details of the vehicle, including colour and make, were circulated to police and DCI officers in Malindi, Mombasa and other parts of the coast region.

Tracking the vehicle’s movements using Baya’s phone signals, DCI detectives impounded the car in Mombasa central business district.

The three alleged abductors were arrested and taken to Central Police Station in Mombasa Town for questioning.

Police were told that Baya had borrowed Ksh600, 000 from Wairimu, but she was yet to settle the loan despite the maturity date expiring.

Baya and Wairimu had agreed, before a lawyer, that should Baya fail to meet her loan repayment obligations, then Wairimu would file a legal suit against her.

Komora, the GSU officer who took Baya from her workstation, is said to be on leave. He told police that his only role was to arrest Baya, and that he wasn’t part of the alleged abduction network.

Detectives, however, asked him why he did not hand Baya over to police upon “arresting her”.

Investigations into the alleged abduction is ongoing, with the DCI saying the three will be produced in court on Monday, December 30.