Police in Kwale have intensified a manhunt for a suspect who carjacked Kwale Law Court Chief Magistrate Doreen Mulekyo as Chief Justice David Maraga calls for heightened security for judicial staff.
Mulekyo was carjacked on Thursday at around 8pm as she was driving along Msambweni.
Preliminary reports from the police indicate that the suspect got into the magistrates car through the rear door.
He then drove for about one-and-a-half kilometres before he abandoned the car and fled.
“The attacker then got hold of the car and drove it for about one-and-a-half kilometres and abandoned it. When our officers visited the scene it was found [that] nothing, apart from her phone, was stolen from the car,” Coast regional police boss Larry Kieng told daily Nation.
Surprisingly, the suspect only made away with her phone. He left a laptop and money belonging to the Magistrate in the car. She was not injured.
The CJ upon learning of the incident termed it as shocking.
Via his official twitter handle, Maraga said: “Last night’s carjacking of Kwale Chief Magistrate Doreen Mulekyo was a shocking incident to the entire Judiciary. We thank God she wasn’t hurt. I call upon the police to ensure the culprits are arrested. We want to see better security for all our staff, and indeed all Kenyans.”
Kieng said police are on the matter as the suspect is well known.
“We, however, have leads into the matter and the person is known and we are looking for him.”
This is the second attack on a judicial officer. On October 24, gunmen shot at a car belonging to Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and injured her bodyguard-cum-driver.