Police Break Silence on Death of Anthony Ochieng Who Died Hours After Arrest in Githurai

Police in Kasarani have denied claims that burglary suspect Anthony Ochieng died while in custody, saying he succumbed to injuries suffered when the getaway vehicle he was driving crashed during a police chase in Githurai 44.

Ochieng was the driver of a vehicle allegedly used to transport stolen property from Karatina to Nairobi when detectives cornered the suspects at a shop in Githurai on Sunday.

Police said the chase began after the suspects were allegedly spotted offloading stolen electronics at the shop, about six hours after a series of burglaries in Karatina.

The vehicle sped off when officers moved in but lost control before hitting a child and crashing into an electricity pole. Ochieng was arrested at the scene and taken to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where police said he died upon arrival.

His death has since raised questions from his family, with his mother, Pamela Ndira, calling for answers ahead of a post-mortem examination.

“I would just ask that justice be served. I want to know what caused my son’s death. Even if he had committed an offence, there is a law,” Pamela Ndira, Anthony’s mother said.

Police Link suspects to Nairobi, Mt Kenya Burglaries

The crash has also opened a wider investigation into an alleged cross-regional robbery syndicate operating between Nairobi and the Mt Kenya region.

CCTV footage showed the suspects allegedly breaking into houses in Karatina on Sunday and leaving with electronics and other valuables.

Detectives later traced the suspects to Githurai 44, where they allegedly attempted to offload the stolen property.

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A search of the vehicle and the shop recovered more than 40 television sets, stolen CCTV cameras, suspected fake number plates and housebreaking tools.

Police believe stolen goods were being moved between Nairobi and the central region, with the Githurai outlet allegedly serving as a point where some of the property was disposed of.

At Kasarani Police Station, one of the alleged burglary victims from Karatina identified her laptop among the recovered items.

She said she had secured the laptop using a fingerprint lock, allowing her to confirm it belonged to her.

“I had set the fingerprint as a biometric security feature. When I placed my fingerprint on it, it opened and I confirmed that it was mine. I was able to recover my laptop, phone and TV,” she said.

Family Awaits Postmortem as Injured Child Recovers

The crash also left a child with a broken leg after being struck by the fleeing vehicle. Other bystanders were injured during the chase.

Peter Maina, the father of the injured child, said he was alerted shortly after the incident and found his child outside after being hit.

“Within ten minutes, someone knocked on my door and told me my child had been injured. He was crying outside after being hit by a car. I found the driver lying on the ground after he had crashed into the electricity pole, so I picked up my child and took the child to hospital first,” Maina said.

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Two other suspects escaped from the scene. Detectives are now searching for the owner of the Githurai shop and other people suspected of being linked to the alleged syndicate.

Meanwhile, Ochieng’s family is waiting for the post-mortem examination, which is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding his death after the crash and subsequent arrest.

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DCI Headquarters. PHOTO/DCI