Kenyan police officer almost lynched by angry mob after he demanded bribe from liquor store owner

A Police Inspector, Davis Simiyu was almost lynched on Wednesday evening, January 12, after he demanded for a bribe that was not forthcoming from a liquor store owner, in Thika’s Runda estate, Kenya.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations – DCI in a statement on Thursday, January 13, said that the officer, who is attached to Kikuyu police station, had in the company of two others who were lucky to escape, walked to Heisenberg wines and spirits masquerading as Kenya Revenue Authority officials.

After conducting a thorough ‘inspection’ of the liquor store, they turned to the owner David Mathenge and accused him of failing to issue ETR Tax invoices to customers and selling products with fake excise stamps, after which they demanded for a hefty bribe.

“All this while, a visibly disappointed group of the characteristic young men who hover around liquor stores were all eyes, watching the unfolding events from the periphery as the purported KRA staff ransacked their local. They were not happy,” the statement reads.

When Mathenge remained adamant that he was a diligent taxpayer operating his business legitimately, the three attempted to arrest him.

However, his intuition had warned him that the three were out to steal from him. He raised alarm.

This attracted the already agitated group of young men who came running, baying for the blood of the three.

Two of the suspects managed to escape using a getaway car but Simiyu was cornered and given a thorough beating befitting a stray dog.

Police officers who were on patrol heard the commotion and rushed to the scene in time to save Simiyu, before the mobs’ blows and kicks reached his vital organs.

It is after interrogation that the officers established that Inspector Simiyu was a rogue cop on interdiction.

He is facing three court cases at the Nakuru and Milimani Law courts, for the offences of impersonating KRA officials. A fake KRA identification document was also recovered from him.

The suspect is currently in custody facing personation and forgery charges.