Four robbery suspects faced charges related to a violent heist in April this year. The suspects Duncan Wambua Kimeu, Dennis Ndolo Mutunga, Wambua Kinyili Mutunga, and Charles Mutinda Margaret are accused of orchestrating a brazen robbery and kidnapping along the Kangundo-Mwala Road in Machakos County. The court, presided over by Principal Magistrate Hon. Sammy Opande, postponed the bond and bail hearing until December 18th, 2024.
Charges and Details of the Incident
According to court documents, on April 29th, 2024, the suspects targeted Titus Muteti Kilika at Kambai Junction. The victim, a retired government officer, was robbed of a Samsung mobile phone, a National ID card, NHIF card, medical practitioner card, several bank ATM cards (Equity, Family, Sidian, and Shirika), and cash totaling Ksh 1,503,111. The suspects allegedly threatened Kilika with violence during the attack, hijacking him and detaining him for several hours before fleeing.
The robbery was not a random act of violence; it was a well-planned operation, with the suspects presumably having conducted surveillance on Kilika prior to the attack. This level of premeditation is underlined by the fact that Duncan Wambua Kimeu, one of the accused, had known the victim for over a decade as his taxi driver. The betrayal felt by Kilika was palpable in court, where he expressed fears for his life, alleging that the suspects had issued previous threats against him.
False Information Charge Against Duncan Wambua Kimeu
In addition to robbery with violence, Duncan Wambua Kimeu faces a separate charge of providing false information to the police. On May 1st, 2024, Kimeu reported to Corporal Patrick Mwakideu at Kangundo Police Station that he had been robbed of cash and personal documents in a separate incident. However, investigations revealed that this report was a diversionary tactic to shift attention from his involvement in the Kangundo robbery. The false information charge against him adds a layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the suspects’ desperate attempts to evade capture.
Prosecution’s Concerns and Flight Risk Assessment
State Counsel Vivian Nyangena argued against granting bail to the suspects, citing concerns over their flight risk. It took months of intensive investigation and efforts to track down and apprehend the accused, suggesting that they were elusive and potentially dangerous. Nyangena noted that Kilika had been subjected to considerable trauma during the robbery, which was exacerbated by his subsequent threats from the suspects. The pre-bail report submitted to the court indicated that the suspects posed a high risk of absconding, further justifying the prosecution’s opposition to bail.
The court’s decision to postpone the bail hearing was met with mixed reactions from the suspects and their families. Dennis Ndolo Mutunga, one of the accused, pleaded for a reduction in the Ksh 5 million cash bail initially set by the court, arguing that the sum was exorbitant and beyond his means. Meanwhile, Wambua Kinyili Mutunga indicated plans to submit a written appeal to challenge the bail conditions. The lack of consensus among the suspects on the bail issue highlights the serious implications of the charges they face and the broader concern over public safety.
Impact on the Community
The robbery has left a lasting impact on the Kangundo community, with many residents expressing their fears over the suspects’ release on bail. The case has sparked wider conversations about the safety of individuals in rural areas, especially in light of the fact that the suspects were known to the victim. The incident underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in preventing and addressing violent crime in regions where such crimes are often underreported or inadequately addressed.
The upcoming bail hearing on December 18th, 2024, will provide a critical opportunity for the court to reassess the risk posed by the suspects to the community and to determine whether conditions can be set to ensure their appearance at trial. Until then, the suspects will remain detained at Kangundo Police Station, where they await the court’s final decision on their fate.
As the Kangundo community watches this case unfold, the proceedings are likely to set a precedent for handling similar cases of robbery and kidnapping in the region, particularly given the rising concerns over violent crime and the need for robust legal measures to protect residents.
