The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has profiled a man on its wanted list in connection with a case involving the illegal trade of ivory.
In a statement on Friday, January 31, 2025, DCI called upon members of the public to volunteer information which may lead to the capture of Alfred Mbugua Gicheha.
The crime busters believe Gicheha has a case to answer after he absconded a court appearance in 2023 and has since gone missing.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is calling upon members of the public to volunteer information that may lead to the arrest of Alfred Mbugua Gicheha. The suspect, whose Warrant of Arrest has since been issued by the JKIA Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court, is wanted for absconding court hearings from December 2023,” DCI noted in their statement.
DCI search car
Detectives revealed that during Gacheha’s arrest on May 24, 2023, police officers searched a car he was driving and found 23 pieces of game trophy with a street value of more than Ksh11 million.
“Mbugua Gicheha who has since gone underground had been arrested on May 24, 2023, in the Sipili area of Laikipia West sub-county, when detectives drawn from DCI Headquarters Serious Crime Unit intercepted a motor vehicle Reg. No. KCC 591B make Nissan Vannette driven by the suspect,” DCI revealed.
“On searching the vehicle, 23 pieces of game trophies weighing approximately 110.5 kilograms with a street value of Sh. 11,050,000/- were recovered.”
DCI equally observed that Gacheha was charged four days after his arrest on May 27, 2023, before the Senior Principal Magistrate at the JKIA court and released on a Ksh3 million bond.
Skipped court session
The police noted that since December 2023, the accused person repeatedly absconded court sessions, making the Senior Principal Magistrate of the JKIA court to issue a warrant of arrest on him.
”All the witnesses testified and the accused was placed on his defence. However, since December 2023, he has neglectfully absconded court hearings, prompting the presiding Magistrate to issue a warrant of arrest against him,” DCI said.
This comes just weeks after DCI officers busted three individuals in possession of illegal ivory worth Ksh2.9 million on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
DCI said that one of the apprehended individuals was a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The sleuths collaborating with officers from the Homabay Police Station and Kenya Wildlife Service officers from Ruma National Park intercepted their car on that market and seized the rhino horn weighing 2.9 kilograms.
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