Kiambu County Police Commander James Mugera has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Thika OCPD Erastus Muthamia to arrest and prosecute arsonists who torched Makongeni market in Thika town on Sunday morning.
Speaking at the market on Monday where he joined County Commander Alex Nkoyo, Thika DCC Jeremiah Gicheru and some Kiambu legislators, the officer said that the residents alleged that administration police were involved in the heinous operation and they should be brought to book immediately.
The fuming police commander put Thika OCPD Francis Muthamia to task to identify and prosecute the officers who authorised the use of police and county government vehicles during the operation.
“It is unfortunate that officers from the police service were used to supervise the destruction of goods worth millions of shillings despite their oath to preserve and protect people’s security and property,” regretted Mugera.
Gicheru said the local leadership should protect the traders and the market against any attempt to grab it by influential individuals and condemned those who were involved in the act.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a urged the OCPD to speed investigations into the incident and ensure justice prevails for the traders who lost property.
Ng’ang’a asked the traders not to be intimidated by eviction threats and stay put in the market.