Former Mlolongo Officer Commanding Station (OCS) and Westgate attack hero Stephen Lelei has been confirmed dead.
Speaking to the media, the family said Lelei died at Kiambu hospital on Saturday, June 16, 2024. However, the cause of his death was yet to be confirmed by press time.
Lelei rose to the limelight during the September 21, 2013, terrorist attack on Westgate Mall in Nairobi.
Before that incident, he was just a low-profile police officer and a police station commander only well known around Kabete.
Officer Lelei shot to fame after the Westgate attack as he was one of the nine police officers feted for their bravery in confronting the gunmen, who killed 67 people in the raid.
He played a critical role in the initial response to the attack by Al-Shabaab militants.
Moreover, Lelei led a team that engaged the terrorists, helping to save many lives and prevent further casualties in the process.
Stephen Lelei Charged with Murder
Nonetheless, Lelei’s fortune later changed in 2020 when he was charged with the murder of two people alongside his colleague Fredrick Leliman.
The two were charged for the murder of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani and two others in 2016.
He was released on Ksh500,000 bail after the court ruled that there was no compelling reason to deny him bail. However, Judge David Kemei of the High Court in Machakos denied Leliman bail.
Fredrick Leliman, who was also charged alongside Lelei for the murders, was not lucky as the court denied him bail stating that his circumstances were different from Lelei’s.
It was alleged that on May 27, 2016, at Kitanga Hotel in Mlolongo, Lelei and Leliman murdered Jacob Mwendwa Mbai and Elizabeth Nduku.
“The second accused has another case whose details have not been fully disclosed. Granting bail at this stage might not be appropriate,” the court ruled. However, Judge Kemei stated that Leliman could seek bail renewal if his circumstances changed.
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Bail, Evidence & Witnesses
Lelei was granted bail of Ksh500,000 with two sureties of Ksh1 million each.
Justice Kemei expressed confidence that the accused would not tamper with important prosecution evidence, contrary to the prosecution’s claims.
The Mlolongo OCS was accused of covering up the deaths and not opening an inquiry file despite his authority.
The court also heard that Lelei had threatened key witnesses, prompting them to seek protection from the Witness Protection Authority.
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Furthermore, Lelei was alleged to have a history of tracing and executing individuals involved in prosecution and investigation cases against him.
However, his lawyers dismissed these allegations as baseless, arguing that there was no evidence of such executions.
In 2022, the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) approved fresh murder charges against Leliman, Lelei, and AP officer Leonard Mwangi.
They were arraigned in court along with driver Wilson Waweru for another murder case.
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