Rogue cop among suspects in Sh14.9 million Eldoret robbery case

Three suspects among them a police officer were charged in an Eldoret court with robbery with violence in Uasin Gishu County.

The three who are allegedly said to have stolen more than Sh 14.9 million included Mahatt Abdullahi, Ernest Odongo alias Party and Phillip Edasi appeared before senior resident magistrate Daniel Sitati yesterday.

 According to the Investigation Officer attached to Tarbo DCI Sub County PC Joseph Komol, Edasi was an officer attached to the Eldoret Central Police Station.

They are accused that on the 4th day of April 2026 at Mti Moja in turbo sub county within Uasin Gishu County jointly, with others not before court, while armed with a dangerous weapon namely pistol robbed Suad Zaid Abdi of cash money and mobile phones all valued at over Sh 14.9 million.

The prosecutions listed the items they robbed that include mobile phones make Samsung A4S, valued at Sh 32,000, Iphone 11 promax valued at Sh 150,000 cash 105200 USD equivalent to Ksh 13,465,600 and ksh 1,310,000  all totaling to ksh 14,957,600 and  that immediately before the time of the robbery they used actual violence against Abdi, a trader in the area.

The accused denied the offense and appealed to be released on bond saying he will attend court proceeding if needed to do so, but Sitati allowed only Abdullahi to be released on a cash bail of Sh 200,000 after the intervention of his lawyer Richard Waringi who argued that his client complied well when he was granted police bond.

Waringi further told the court that since his arrest two weeks ago he had been complying with directives and the officers never complained that he is a flight risk.

“Your Honor my client is not a flight risk as it has been said by the Investigation officer, and even his place of aboard is well known. I want to promise the court that he is going to cooperate fully within the police whenever required,” the lawyer argued

PC Joseph Komol and prosecutor Eunice Rono had earlier asked the court not to release the suspects because they were a flight risk and may interfere with investigations or they might cross to other neighbouring countries.

Komol shocked the court when he stated to the Magistrate that his life is in danger following threats by the police officer, who he claimed had threatened him that he will deal with him once he is out.

He also explained that apart from those in court, there were several suspects including another police officer whose gun was used during the evening raid.

According to the investigation officers, the owner of the gun, who is also an officer, until his disappearance had been on leave holidays but was using the government weapon illegally.

The two officers together with other accomplices are on the run since the robbery incident occurred one week ago.   

“Your Honor, the suspect is a dangerous person, he has already threatened me, if released he is likely to cause harm to me as well as interfering with ongoing investigations, let him stay in cell until we complete our investigation,” Komol appealed.

The officer further informed the court that four other suspects including another police officer were on the run and were being sought in connection with the incident.

“We don’t refute of granting them bond there are compelling reasons as to why the accused person should not be released on bail or bond pending the determination and the hearing of the trial and therefore we humbly pray that the Court does exercise its discretion and deny the accused persons bond,” Komol stated in his affidavit.

“Truly speaking Your Honor I really faced challenges in handling the suspects since we come across them, kindly consider our lives. This case has a lot of challenges that need time and sacrifices,” He added

He reiterated of the rough time he passed through before arresting the accused persons noting that when released on bond or cash bail terms chances are high for them to skip attending court for hearings.

However, on his part, Edasi confirmed to the court that he was a police officer, arguing that all his details are known by his employer and that he would not abscond if released on bond. 

On his verdict Sitati directed that a pre bail report be filed in court before he makes a determination on the bail application by the two other suspects.

“I do not have any objection with the first accused person because he cooperated well with the officers since he was granted bond at the police station but the two other suspects will remain in custody until further notice,” Sitati ordered