Five Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers from Nairobi’s Buru Buru Police Station have been arrested, in Tanzania for trespassing while following cross-border motor vehicle theft suspects.
In a police OB report seen by The Kenya Times and detailing a report filed at Illasit Police Station, the officers had apprehended a suspected vehicle thief, Samuel Ngatia, who led them to another suspect in Tanzania.
“Today the 24th day of May 2024 we received a report from no. 72533 corporal Ali Ibrahim of DCI Buru Buru that they were following up motor vehicle theft syndicate from Nairobi to Tanzania and they mistakenly entered Tanzania territory without their knowledge,” read the OB report in part.
Officers in Custody
Corporal Ali Ibrahim, Police Constable (PC) Joel Osinya, PC Moses Wainaina, PC Josephat Mungania and PC Moses Kiongera, all from DCI Buru Buru were all taken to custody alongside their suspect named Samuel Ngatia.
They DCI officers had also arrested one Tanzanian within Tarakea Town who, allegedly, had been receiving stollen motor vehicle from Kenya.
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“Also in custody with them is their suspect one Samuel Ngatia and a Tanzanian who have been receiving stolen motor vehicles from Kenya,” stated the OB.
Upon arresting the Tanzanian suspect, the report states- he raised an alarm, attracting the attention of police officers from Tarakea Police Station in Tanzania.
The Tanzanian officers arrested the Kenyan detectives along with the suspects. The officers are yet to be released and have been moved to Rombo Mkuu District Headquarters.
The DCIO Kajiado south tried to negotiate for the release of the officers but was unable to sway a mutual agreement.
The subcounty security intelligence team is following up the issue to ensure the release of the officers.
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Tanzania-Kenya Lake Victoria Conflict
About six months ago, Four Kenyan police officers who had been arrested and detained by Tanzania authorities in December 2023. They were released later after a week-long ordeal.
The four including their commander who is a corporal had been attacked and seriously wounded by a mob in an incident at an island ran by Tanzanian authorities on Lake Victoria.
It was not clear what sparked the incident that led to the mob attack and subsequent arrest by the Tanzania authorities while the incident happened near Remba Island which is ran by Kenya.
They were accused of illegally crossing the border to Tanzania.
The incident raised questions on the relationship between the East African countries on boundary issues.
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