Stephen Lelei is dead. Some Kenyans knew Lelei as a hero following his action during the Westgate terror attached in Nairobi. For others, the former Mlolongo OCS was a loser following accusations and subsequent court case for his role in the murder of Lawyer Willie Kimani.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko hailed Lelei as a hero. “RIP. Westgate attack hero cop Stephen Lelei”, said Sonko on X.
Fame
Lelei gained recognition for his bravery during the Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Nairobi on September 21, 2013.
Before the Westgate attack, Chief Inspector Stephen Lelei was a low-profile police officer known around Kabete, where he served as the police station commander.
During the attack, Lelei led a team of officers in confronting the heavily armed gunmen who killed 67 people. Despite being shot in the right leg, he continued to lead until reinforcements arrived.
For his courage, Lelei received the Silver Star (SS) recognition from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He was nicknamed “Ocampo” after the former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Hero turn Murder Suspect
Tragically, Lelei’s legacy took a dark turn. He faced murder charges related to the killing of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client, and a taxi driver.
Lelei’s juniors—Fredrick Leliman, Leonard Mwangi, Sylvia Wanjiku, and Stephen Cheburet—were also charged in connection with the murders.
Lelei was transferred to Busia as the officer in charge of the weighbridge and later returned to Nairobi’s Industrial Area Police Station.
He was promoted and deployed to Mlolongo as the area police commander, where he cracked down on highway robbers, sex workers, illicit brewers, and murderers.
