Cop injured in midnight altercation with gardener at President Ruto's home dies

A policeman who was allegedly assaulted by a gardener at President William Ruto's private residence in Karen, Nairobi County, has died. 

Corporal Timothy Mugendi Rucha was allegedly attacked at 12:20am on July 21, 2022. 

According to a police report on the incident, Mugendi was hit at the back of his head with an object. “The officer was taken to Nairobi West Hospital in critical condition with multiple head injuries,” the report said. 

He was later transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH), where he died last week. 

“We are seeking justice for our brother because he was attacked while on duty and suffered for several months in hospital before he succumbed to the injuries,” the late cop's brother Erastus Rucha is quoted by the Nation as saying. 

The late officer's family says it incurred a KSh5 million hospital bill at the two facilities were Mugendi was admitted. Part of the bill was however cleared by the police medical insurance.

The suspect who was arrested shortly after the incident is facing assault charges. 

The late Mugendi hailed from Gakui village in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.