BY CORRESPONDENT
Residents of Charagita Ward in Nyandarua West have accused Ngano Police Station OCS Walter Obegi of demanding bribes from business operators and protecting known criminals.
They claim this has promoted crime in the area.
A resident who sought anonymity for fear of intimidation said Obegi has turned a blind eye to a notorious criminal known as Betwel Kamau.
“Kamau has criminal records of robbery with violence, he even threated to kill the local chief.” said the resident.
Kamau allegedly cut down trees belonging to James Munjuu without his knowledge.
He allegedly lied to Stephen Githinji Ndirangu a timber yard owner that he owned the trees and obtained shs 2,000 from him.
The matter was reported at Ngano Police Station vide OB 09/20/06/2021 but OCS Walter Obegi allegedly intimidated the complainants Stephen Githinji Ndirangu and James Munjuu.
A source at the station said the OCS arrested Stephen Ndirangu for cutting down the trees and allegedly intimidated him to drop the charges against Kamau.
Residents alleged that Betwel Kamau’s family sold land worth shs 1.2 million and bribed the OCS with shs 100,000 for the OCS to dop the charges against Kamau.
Sources added that Stephen Ndirangu Githinji was later released on a cash bail of shs 5, 000 and ordered to go to Ngano police station on Friday last week and see OCS Obegi.
“Instead of being taken to court, Stephen Githinji was released on 26/6/2021,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, OCS Obegi did not respond to the allegations.
He did not respond to text messages and phone calls.
Nyandarua County Police commander Zachary Kimani did not respond to our messages on what he is doing to address the residents’ concerns.
Several other residents said the local police under the watch of Obegi have turned a blind eye as drug peddlers openly sell drugs at Gathanji market.
They also said that on 29/4/2021 the OCS went to Charagita market where he and some officers stormed Karumaindo bar.
They said the owner of the bar Jackson Irungu was clearing up with the customers before he could close the bar.
The OCS with his officers threatened to arrest the bar owner if he did not give them shs 20,000.
“Bar hufungwa saa tatu, leo nimekupata utaozea ndani. Nitahakikisha unapigwa fine ya shs 50,000”, the OCS allegedly told Irungu.
Out of fear, Irungu allegedly pleaded with him to take shs 10,000.
A police officer who was part if the raid and requested anonymity said they were given the money in cash and left.
Residents have appealed to the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to intervene and “tame the OCS”.
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