Man jailed 40 years for posing as police officer in Sh4m coastal robberies

A Kilifi court has sentenced a man to 40 years in prison for his involvement in a series of violent robberies and for impersonating a police officer, according to the source material. The accused was tried for four counts of robbery with violence and impersonating a police officer following the prosecution's presentation of nine witnesses who positively identified him at identification parades, dismissing his defense of mistaken identity.

Principal Magistrate Ivy D. Wasike ruled that he had failed to provide any evidence to support his claim that he was in Migori attending his grandmother's burial at the time of the robberies. The court noted that he could not produce a bus ticket, call a witness, or present any other proof to substantiate his alibi. Otieno's arrest occurred on March 26, 2025, following an ambush by police officers who had been informed of a robbery in Malindi.

During the operation, he exchanged gunfire with officers along a busy highway and was subsequently apprehended. The accused and an accomplice allegedly dressed as police officers to gain entry into residential homes, where they held occupants at gunpoint and stole valuables worth around Sh4 million. The robberies took place between November 2024 and March 2025.

Otieno was sentenced to 30 years for each of the four robbery counts, with the sentences running concurrently, and an additional 10 years for impersonation, resulting in a total sentence of 40 years. He has 14 days to file an appeal.