Cop arrested over failed abduction of medical doctor in Juja

A police officer was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a failed abduction attempt of a medical doctor in Juja, Kiambu County. The officer, who is attached to Kayole police station, was detained by police officers from Athi River Police Station pending further processing and investigations. He is accused of abduction and robbery with violence.

The victim, Emmanuel Kerich, was reportedly abducted by armed suspects who demanded a Sh3 million ransom for his release. The abduction took place on August 5, 2026, when three men accosted Kerich while he was out with friends at Juja City Mall. They handcuffed him and forced him into a Subaru Forester.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle's side mirrors had different registration details, suggesting an attempt to conceal the vehicle's identity during the crime. The suspects subsequently drove Kerich through various locations, torturing him and demanding the ransom before heading towards Athi River. With the help of members of the public and intelligence, police officers tracked and intercepted the vehicle along Mavemba–Mugoya Road in Athi River.

During the confrontation, two suspects managed to flee, but one was caught by the public and subsequently rescued by police before being taken to a hospital under guard. The victim was safely rescued, and police recovered a pair of handcuffs believed to have been used during the incident. The Subaru Forester has been seized as evidence for the ongoing investigation.

Detectives have launched a manhunt for the two suspects who escaped, and the police are also investigating whether the suspects were known to the victim. This incident is part of a series of similar cases involving police officers in criminal activities, which officials claim are isolated and cannot be used to judge the overall police service. The police say they have internal mechanisms to address such cases.