The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya has withdrawn a case against four suspects accused of a series of armed robberies, kidnappings, and extortion. The suspects include two police officers, Silas Onyango Okello and Oliver Juma Boge, and two civilians, Job Sidiga and Stephene Okello. They were accused of targeting motorists and members of the public along Thika Road and its environs.
According to investigations, the four suspects allegedly used a grey Toyota Allion to trail their targets before staging arrests, extorting money, and robbing members of the public. One of the complainants, Cyrus Mwangi Wahongo, told investigators that he was intercepted by the group, falsely accused of smoking bhang, and robbed of KSh15,000. Preliminary investigations also linked the suspects to a separate robbery on September 16 in which KSh140,000 was allegedly stolen.
The prosecution's case weakened after Wahongo failed to attend an identification parade at Kasarani Police Station. Sergeant David Waigua of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had summoned him to participate in the exercise, but Wahongo told investigators that he had already been compensated and would not proceed with the case. Wahongo later swore an affidavit stating that he had voluntarily decided to withdraw his complaint.
In a letter dated October 1, 2026, the ODPP said it had considered Wahongo's sworn affidavit and his decision to withdraw his complaint while the matter was still at the investigation stage. The ODPP noted that no formal charges had been filed against the four suspects, leaving the matter within the prosecution's discretion at the investigative stage.
The ODPP cited Article 157(11) of the Constitution and its prosecution policy guidelines, stating that the complainant's refusal to cooperate had significantly affected the prospects of successfully prosecuting the case. However, the prosecution cautioned that the decision does not permanently close the file, and the matter remains subject to review.
The ODPP said the case may be reopened if new evidence emerges or subsequent investigations establish that Wahongo was coerced or otherwise unlawfully induced to withdraw his complaint. The suspects, including the two interdicted police officers, Okello and Boge, were formerly attached to Kahawa Sukari and Railways Police Station, respectively.
The withdrawal of the case has raised concerns about the accountability of police officers and the effectiveness of investigations into serious crimes. The ODPP's decision highlights the challenges in prosecuting cases that rely heavily on complainant cooperation.
Key points
- The case may be reopened if new evidence emerges.
- The suspects included two interdicted police officers.
- The complainant withdrew his complaint after being compensated.
