Boy arrested for ‘leading’ gang

Published on 04/07/2011

By Antony Gitonga
A ten-year-old boy and his father, who are said to be the masterminds of a series of robberies in a Naivasha estate, were among six suspects beaten by the public.
There was drama in Mirera estate when irate members of the public set on the six using all manner of crude weapons, leaving them for the dead. The police arrived just in time to rescue them.
Household goods worth thousands of shillings were recovered during the midday incident.
Residents gave moving accounts of how the minor gave them sleepless nights as he led his gang from one house to another.
Begs accommodation According to Mr Johnstone Nderitu, the boy would pose as hungry and without a place to sleep before seeking accommodation from well-wishers. At night, however, he would sneak from bed to open the door for his colleagues who would rob the homes.
"This kind of robbery has been going on for the last five months until now when we have arrested the boy who led us to his colleagues.
Sound sleep

Plain clothes police with a ten-year-old boy and other suspects they rescued from an irate mob baying for their blood, accusing them of being behind a series of robberies in Mirera Estate, Naivasha. Photo: Anthony Gitonga/Standard

Another resident, Benjamin Mungania, called on the police to increase patrols adding that cases of sexual abuse were also on the rise."By arresting these suspects, we hope to sleep soundly as we have undergone untold suffering from this gang," he said.
Speaking on the telephone, Naivasha OCPD Ernest Oponyo said the suspects would be arraigned in court.
"We thank the public for assisting us to nab these suspects and we urge them to volunteer even more information."
Items recovered included bicycles, TV sets, radios and utensils.