Mystery of slain police informer and overzealous crime-buster

James Mwangi Munene , 32, was confirmed dead instantly after gunmen who were in a car pumped close to 40 bullets into the Mercedez compressor in which he was driving towards Nairobi direction.Photo Courtesy

Details have emerged about the assassination of a police informer whose car was sprayed with bullets in Thika last Wednesday.
James Mwangi, 32, died after gunmen in another car sprayed close to 40 bullets into the Mercedes-Benz he was driving towards Nairobi.
His death remains as mysterious as his life. Mwangi’s operations were clandestine, accompanying officers for operations and at times going to the extent of presenting himself as a police officer. He was known within the police circles as Willy.
Mwangi was a familiar face at the Nairobi Area DCI offices, Flying Squad and Kasarani police offices. He could easily be mistaken for a police officer.
In his Kasarani neighbourhood, Mwangi was known by neighbours as a crime buster. He was always on the speed dial of police officers dealing with major crimes.
When he was shot dead last Wednesday, initial reports indicated that a police officer had been gunned down. Senior police commanders in Thika rejected that account.
A police report filed by the Thika station commander did not identify the man as an informer and simply said he was a friend of the police. “He was a friend of Nairobi Area DCI officers and Kasarani police, although he did not have an office,” the report by Thika station chief indicated.
Yesterday, none of the police officers whom Mwangi visited or accompanied during operations was willing to be quoted about the man on whom they relied to lure criminals from their hideouts.
The officers acknowledged, however, that Mwangi was among informers who helped police penetrate criminal gangs.
“He was the kind of guy who was well-connected. He knew so much about criminals and was always willing to give information when called upon. At times we had to restrain him,” a senior officer privy to some of the operations said.
There has been speculation that Mwangi was either killed by the same police officers he worked with or criminals.
On the night he was shot dead, Mwangi is said to have been driving back from Thika, where he was said to have met some informers about the crackdown on  contraband sugar.
He was living in a rental house in Roysambu, paying Sh23,500 per month.
Though he was not known to hold a formal job or operate a business, in February he spent about Sh6 milion to buy a Mercedes.
A security brief from Thika police station under OB 02/27/06/2018 states that police identified Mwangi through a motor vehicle insurance sticker and KRA compliance certificate found in the car.
 A police source said they found classified documents in the car. The documents are only supposed to be held by police officers but this fact was not mentioned in the police brief to headquarters.
Kiambu top investigator Amos Teben said investigations are underway.