According to a police source familiar with the investigations in the killings in Matungu in Mumias sub-county, Kakamega County, one of the politicians was arrested after the police found out he had sent a total of Sh120,000 to the suspect arrested in Nairobi.
The suspect, Kelson Liyenga alias Kevin Lienga, was arrested by the special crimes prevention unit in Kawangware, Nairobi, and transferred to Mbale for interrogation.
The DCI cited two cases in 2017, when the suspect was directly connected to a series of violent robberies in Chavakali and Sabatia, in which victims’ legs were cut off with pangas.
Police sources indicate that the same politician had also sent Sh30,000 to another suspect, who was coordinating activities of the gang in Matungu.
Three more suspects, believed to be members of the outlawed gangs, 42 brothers and 14 brothers, were arrested early yesterday following intensified police operations, led by General Service Unit (GSU) officers.
Among those arrested is the brother to a suspect who was lynched by a mob recently.
The four politicians, who were arrested over the weekend are Echesa, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, Matungu MP Justus Murunga and MCA Libinus Odour.
In a statement issued Sunday evening, the director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji asked the police to release former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa and the three politicians apprehended over the killings in Matungu, Kakamega County.
They were however required to report to police on Monday.
The second most wanted suspect 24-year-old Boniface Gubimiru alias Guga in killings that have rocked Matungu and Kilingili was arrested in Vihiga County by the Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SCPU) following leads from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi.
Three suspects
Mr Yakubu confirmed the arrest of the three suspects, saying they will also be arraigned in court today.
“We have mounted a 24-hour crackdown to flush out criminal gangs which have been terrorising Matungu residents.
THREE more wanted suspects were today arrested in Vihiga following a Forensic based analysis operation by #DCI Detectives from the HQs. The three suspects; Samuel Mulimi Mbuhere, Wycliffe Achala Kinandi & Duncan Karana are directly linked to the violent crimes in Western Region. pic.twitter.com/CaAkLyHGwx
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) May 19, 2019
We are going to leave no stone unturned in this operation. All suspects in connection with the attacks will be arrested irrespective of their social status,” said Mr Yakubu.
The police are also in hot pursuit of a chief and an assistant chief who have allegedly gone missing after the launch of the crackdown by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i last week.
The two administrators said to be related, have been adversely mentioned by residents as abetting crime by giving crucial information to the suspects on where the police are to conduct crackdowns. They have also been accused of helping suspects to escape.