Police have arrested six individuals accused of operating an illegal police detention facility in Kakamega County, where they allegedly extorted money from local residents.
The operation came to light on Tuesday, March 11, when Assistant Chief Isaac Ayumba was informed by a village elder from a neighboring sub-location, sparking an immediate investigation.
During the operation, nine people who had been detained at the facility, many of whom had suffered serious injuries, were released.
Ayumba confirmed the discovery, stating, “I contacted the village elder in my area, who verified that the illegal activity was indeed taking place.”
The authorities are still searching for additional gang members who fled the scene after learning about the raid.
The police also recovered various weapons from the makeshift cell, including clubs, whips, and ropes.
Reports indicate that the criminals had been running the illicit detention center for over a week, using it to terrorize and extort money from residents.
Locals believe the gang exploited the high levels of criminal activity in the area, such as drug trafficking, substance abuse, and the illegal alcohol trade, to fuel their extortion operation.
Victims of the gang shared their painful experiences, describing the abuse they endured and how they were coerced into paying bail to secure their release.
Those who refused to pay bribes were subjected to both physical and emotional torment.
One victim, Lilian Chemayo, recounted how she was forcibly detained on March 5 while carrying out her daily chores at her home in the Alkarim Makaburini slums on the outskirts of Kakamega town.
The group of men and women who arrived at her doorstep demanded to know why her daughter was not attending school.
Before she could respond, one man tackled her to the ground, and they proceeded to drag her to the illegal cell.
After enduring further beatings, she was released the following day after paying sh 300.
Another victim, Mildred Ayuma, shared her experience of being abducted from her home on the evening of March 6. She was taken to the same facility, where she witnessed other prisoners being caned.
This incident follows a similar arrest on March 9, when police apprehended Collins Leitich, also known as Chepkulei, in Uasin Gishu’s Kesses Sub-County.
Leitich had been operating an unauthorized police patrol station at Cherus Centre without the approval of the National Police Service (NPS).
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