BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
A joint operation by police officers from Kiambu has rescued an Anglican Church of Kenya Priest who was kidnapped at gunpoint on Thursday.
The Cleric was kidnapped at 7 pm by four gangsters.
Reverend John Chege was accosted by the gang while opening a gate to his house at Gitaru,Kabete subcounty.
According to Chege, two of the gangsters were armed with pistols.
He was coming from ACK ST. John’s Ndongoro in Kabete where he serves.
The quartet ordered him to enter his vehicle and one of the gang members drove the car.
They ordered him to give them sixty thousand shillings ransom to be freed.
“They ordered me to call my family members and friends using my phone to ask them for money. They also ordered me to give them my identity card and withdrew the money sent, about forty thousand shillings.” Chege told the press on Thursday night after being rescued.
He said the gang hit a Toyota Prado along Kamiti road with intention to hijack it.
“The motorist sped off after sensing danger.” said the Priest.
According to Chege, the gangster who was driving his car could be a resident of Githurai 44.
Chege said that one of the gang members told the driver to make sure time was on their side since he knew the locality.
The Clerics friends got suspicious and informed the Police at King’eero police station who started tracking the gang.
The six hours manhunt was led by Kiambu County Police Commander Ali Duba Nuno.
The gangsters made stopovers along the way to drink alcohol and smoke bhang as well as urinating on the middle of the road.
“They offered me drinks and bhang, but I refused. They told me to urinate in the middle of the road without being in a hurry which I did.” Said the Priest.
The gang drove through, Gitaru, Kingeero, Gachie, Ruaka, Thika Superhighway before joining Kamiti Road, where they were ambushed.
Nuno said he mobilized his officers and managed to catch up with the gang at Githurai 44 on Kamiti road.
Nuno said the gang was ordered to surrender but shot at the police.
” A gang member was the first to shoot at us.” he said.
Nuno said they had to be very careful not to kill the pastor who was held hostage in his car.
“We fatally injured two of the gang members while two others armed with a pistol managed to escape with several bullet wounds. We are committed to make Kiambu crime free.” Nuno told Hot News on Thursday night.
The police boss said they recovered one pistol, two rounds of ammunition, two spent cartridges, the Priests car, and his phone.
Police also recovered an Identity Card and a mobile phone.
“A phone, a knife, a hummer and the Identity card were positively identified as Chege’s properties”, Nuno said.
In what appears like one of the thugs predicted their death, Cheege said one of the thugs asked him what time he goes to sleep.
“It was about nine minutes to midnight and in just a few seconds police arrived and one of the gangsters fired at the police.” Chege said.
It is the gangsters who went to “sleep” at midnight and not the pastor.
Nuno has appealed to members of the public to notify the police whenever they spot the thugs who escaped.