By Betty Luke
Police in Isiolo have arrested the main suspect in the killing of the Isiolo bodaboda rider who was roughed up and set ablaze for allegedly stealing motorcycle spare parts last Thursday.
The suspect reportedly mobilized a group of youths who took part in the killing of Abduba Osman and also took part in the crime according to police.
The 18-year-old bodaboda operator, only identified as Karondo, was arrested by detectives in Tigania West, Meru County on Tuesday.
The deceased was accosted by a group of men in Isiolo town and ferried in a tuktuk to an area within the Isiolo-Meru border where he was burnt alive.
The prime suspect had claimed ownership of the stolen motorbike before he went into hiding immediately after the incident that threw Isiolo into turmoil affecting business and other crucial services.
County Police Commander Joseph Kigen said two other suspects, both of them bodaboda riders, were arrested on Monday during a security meeting at the Isiolo town police field.
The arrest brings to eight the total number of suspects arrested in the last four days who include the rider and the owner of the tuktuk that transported the rider to the crime scene.
Also arrested are eight people who took part in the protests.
Following the killing, a group of bodaboda operators from the rider’s community attacked another accusing its members of being behind the murder.
The protesters looted several items from some of the shops as several taxi operators incurred losses after the rowdy youth pelted stones on their vehicles.
The inter-community fights left at least 10 people injured.
The police boss asked traders to install CCTV cameras for security purposes and to aid detectives in pursuing criminals in event of theft.
