By Monica Kagia, Mombasa
A woman suspected to have robbed a police officer of his gun and other valuables after spending a night with him at the Deputy President’s official residence in Mombasa has been charged with stealing.
Elias Wakesho Kazungu was charged with two counts of stealing a gun and a mobile phone.
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The charge sheet read that on December 19, 2019 at the Deputy President's residence in Mvita sub-county, jointly with others not in court, stole a Ceska pistol serial number E1546 loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, the property of National Police Service.
Together with Joshua Owiti Oliech, the woman was slapped with a second count of stealing an Itel mobile phone, belonging to Police Constable (PC) Francis Kariuki Kamande, a police officer attached to the DP's residence.
Oliech, who was arrested on January 14 in Kisauni while in possession of the phone, was further charged with handling stolen goods to wit a mobile phone worth Sh1,200 belonging to Kamande.
A statement recorded by Kamande revealed that he met Wakesho on Moi Avenue, one of the Mombasa's red light district while strolling. The two had a chat and they agreed to spend the night together where the officer was staying. Upon arrival at the gate of the DP residence, they were let in by other police officers on duty and proceeded to his house.
However, when the policeman woke up the following day, the woman, his Ceska pistol, money and other valuables were missing. The officer said that he had kept the pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition and the mobile phone under the pillow.
Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti questioned how the accused person was able to access the said DP's private residence.
"We move very fast when passing the DP's residence, how did they manage to access that, you are joking?" asked Nyaloti.
However, state counsel Erick Masila told the magistrate that the prosecution will disclose how the whole saga unfolded as the case continues.
The two denied the charges and were released on a Sh200, 000 bond.
The residence has been on the spotlight after it emerged that Deputy President William Ruto was denied access to the house on January 8.
The newly-refurbished house was for many years the Coast Provincial Commissioner’s official residence.
The matter will come up for pre-trial on February 10.
