Nairobi OCS arrested for stealing vehicle from police station

An OCS in Nairobi was arrested on Friday by detectives from the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) and detained at Capitol Hill Police Station for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle that had been detained at her station.

This is after the Director of Public Prosecutions approved charges levelled against her by the unit investigating a complaint filed against the officer over the irregular release of Siama Rahma's motor vehicle from her station.

The vehicle, a Mazda Demio registration number KCR 526R, had been detained at the station after it was involved in an accident in October 2021 but was released illegally and sold sometime last year through a public auction and without following due process.

The vehicle, a Mazda Demio valued at Sh600,000, was disposed of for only Sh50,000.

The complainant said she had made multiple attempts to recover her vehicle but was asked to pay an amount she couldn't raise until July 2022, when she noticed her car was missing at the station.

Around mid-last year, she spotted a car around Yaya Centre being driven by an officer. She reported the matter to traffic officers who were on duty in the area, who referred her to the Kilimani police station to avail her ownership documents.

At the station, however, she said calls were made to the OCS, and the car was granted to the officer, and she was banned from going back to the station.

Further attempts to recover the vehicle were futile. She told the unit that the OCS and the Inspector have since avoided her calls and frustrated her efforts, forcing her to file an official complaint against the station with the IAU in November last year.

The unit investigated the matter to its logical conclusion and forwarded the file to the ODPP for directions.

On February 5 this year, the ODPP through the IAU, granted the OCS and her accomplices 30 days to compensate the complainant, failure to which they would be charged with five counts of, amongst others, stealing a motor vehicle, abuse of office, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

"Get back to this office at the lapse of the 30 days to confirm settlement of the matter or charging of the suspects," directed the ODPP.

After the lapse of 30 days, the OCS was expected in court on Thursday but did not show up.

Detectives from the IAU trailed her on Friday arrested her and booked her at Capitol Hill police station via OB number 22/05/04/2024.

She was later released on a Sh10,000 cash bail after requesting the ODPP to be set free, claiming she was too sick to take the plea.

She is expected in court on April 17, where she is expected to take a plea alongside the auctioneer who sold the vehicle that is currently detailed at Capitol Hill police station as an exhibit.

The case mirrors many others happening across the country where police officers dispose of vehicles detained in their yards without following due process.

Around the same time last year, Farah Jamah Mohamed’s vehicle, a Toyota Succeed was released by the OCS Makuyu police station and sold through a public auction as an “unclaimed property”.

A probe by IAU, Nyeri region recommended action against the OCS Chief Inspector Peter Owiyo who was involved in the sale.

In this case, the ODPP did not approve criminal charges against the OCS but directed that he be subjected to stern disciplinary action and that the vehicle be returned to its rightful owner.

The vehicle was however not returned forcing the complainant to seek legal redress.