Kenya's CID Director is dead

KiN Reports
By FRED MUKINDA and OLIVER MUSEMBI

CID director Simon Gatiba Karanja died early Sunday as he was being taken to a Thika hospital. His sons drove him to hospital at around 8am when they found him writhing in pain in bed.

The cause of death will be established after the postmortem examination results are released. Mr Karanja, 56, was in Nairobi on Saturday where he met officers for regular briefings before leaving for his Juja home.

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said the top detective was at home with his three sons, two of them police officers, when he suddenly fell ill.

Took over reins
Mr Iteere told journalists at the city’s Lee funeral home: “He arrived at his Juja home at around 1300 hours and spent the whole afternoon with his family. There were three sons, two of them police officers. The family dispersed and went to bed at around 10 pm.”

The Police Commissioner continued: “At around 8am, one of the sons went to his father’s bedroom and found him writhing in pain. “He called out to his brother and they took him to the car and rushed him to hospital where the doctor confirmed he had passed on.”

Mr Karanja took over the reins at the CID on November 14, 2006, after Mr Joseph Kamau was retired. Before the new appointment, he was the Coast Provincial Police Officer (PPO).

He took over when the force was divided, with low morale among CID officers as a result of infighting between Mr Kamau and former police commissioner, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Hussein Ali.

His arrival saw the end of the upheavals associated with his predecessors. Those who worked with him said he was humble, good-hearted and efficient. He was withdrawn and not known to issue press statements easily.

His predecessors reported directly to the President but Maj-Gen Ali was able to consolidate authority after Mr Karanja was appointed. On Sunday, President Kibaki sent his condolences to Mr Karanja’s family.

The President described him as “a hardworking and dedicated public servant who served the police force for over 30 years.”

“Indeed, with his passing on, the cruel hand of death has robbed our country of a dedicated public servant. As you pay homage to the departed soul of this career police officer, it is my trust that you will also be able to celebrate his life, his achievements and his dedication to our country,” added President Kibaki.

Mr Karanja was among top government officials expected to meet the International Criminal Court prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, in connection with investigations into post-election violence.

Courtesy: Daily Nation