Motorist accused of killing traffic police officer detained for 7 days

A motorist accused of running over and killing a traffic police officer was on Thursday detained for seven days pending completion of investigations.

Edward Njoroge, a matatu driver, was arraigned before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Martha Nanzushi under a miscellaneous application.

Njoroge was reportedly carrying unidentified plastics when he was flagged down by Officer Peter Lukote from the Traffic Department on Tuesday at around 4pm on the Eastern by-pass.

According to Lang’ata OCPD Gregory Mutiso, the officer signaled the 14-seater matatu driver to stop and asked him to hand over his license while holding onto the door handle.

The suspect allegedly refused to hand over the document and a tussle ensued, during which he – all of a sudden – engaged his gear and began to drive off.

During this misguided attempt to flee, he apparently ran over the police officer who had accidentally slipped and fallen on the road.

Unknown to Njoroge, a vehicle belonging to sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had been parked near the scene and a pursuit ensued.

Several other motorists who had witnessed the unfolding drama also began to pursue and finally caught up with him in Kikuyu.

The traffic cop succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the Nairobi West Hospital.

A post-mortem conducted at the Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home confirmed that he died from multiple injuries caused by blunt-force trauma.