How Police paid competent officer with 56 bullets

Even after being one of the most competent cops in the history of Kenya’s crime management, Police Inspector Daniel Seroney was not a friend to everyone.

Credited for bringing down some of the most notorious criminals in Kenya’s history, the former officer’s resume is legendary.

Despite his 17 years of distinguished service, the former chief inspector was dismissed from the police force unceremoniously in 2001, after surviving an attempt on his life by his fellow officers, who sprayed 56 bullets at his car.

In a rare interview carried out by The Standard’s Nyambega Gisesa, Seronei claimed that his commitment to serve diligently, as well as his tough stance on taking bribes, was the key reason for his situation.

“When you are faithful with your work, a police officer never survives, one of my seniors confided in me that I had cut the pipe that fed rogue cops and that my time to be cut had arrived,” he revealed.

Image of the famous peugeot 504 Kenya police car

While speaking during an interview on KTN, the legendary officer gave a chilling narration of the day his colleagues tried to take his life in the most brutal way.

In the morning leading up to the attempt on his life, Seronei attended a court case involving criminals he had arrested in South C estate for robbing Ksh40 million and injuring an Administration Police officer in the process.

He was then called to the then CID headquarters (current Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters) in the evening to aid in conducting an interrogation.

Seronei reportedly left work at around 7pm and headed for his home in Buru Buru estate.

However, he took a slight detour and passed by a local pub near Kariobangi roundabout that was known as Kamaua Bar and Restaurant, where he indulged in a light meal.

It was after leaving the bar that his ever vigilant eyes noticed that a car he knew belonged to the Flying Squad was trailing him.

“I drove for my residence, through Mumias Road on the way to Buru Buru. Before diverting towards Buru Buru, I noticed a CID Flying Squad Peugeot parked along the road. When I was almost at Buru Buru Phase 1, I saw the same Flying Squad car speeding towards me,” he divulged.

He was forced to stop by the kerb as officers he had already identified opened fire on him instantly, pelting his car with 56 bullets.

The former chief inspector did his best to take cover in the space beneath the cars’ steering wheel but by then, he was already bleeding profusely.

Once the firing stopped, he reported having heard one of the officers he knew as Samuel ‘babu’ Nganata state, “Tumemaliza yeye,” loosely translating to “we have finished him.”

It was at this point that he got out of the car and asked them to finish him off – in between feinted breaths resulting from the massive loss of blood – asking them to report that they had recovered guns from a suspected thug, as they always did.

“Before I passed out, I called them by their names and asked why they wanted to kill me yet I had been with them in the office less than two hours ago,” he narrated.

The sounds of gunfire attracted Seronei’s neighbours who he claimed saved his life, as they refused any attempts by the police officers to whisk his body away, but rather took it upon themselves to take him to hospital.

Official reports went on to state that the incident was a case of mistaken identity despite the fact his colleagues knew him and his car well enough.

The former chief inspector was responsible for bringing down Wanugu, Wacucu, and Rasta, a trio of hardened thugs believed to be one of the most notorious in Kenyan history.

Infamous trio from (left) Wanugu, Wacucu and Rasta were Kenya’s ‘baddest’ criminals

During his 2014 interview, the fearless Seronei still had one of the bullets lodged in his chest, 14 years after his terrifying ordeal.

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