This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
On November 7, 2018, Dr. Mugo wa Wairimu, a quack doctor, went into hiding after officials from the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board raided the Millan Health International clinic in Kayole, Nairobi, where he was alleged to have been procuring abortions without a license.
Days later, Mugo made a critical mistake that led to his arrest. He called for an Uber taxi from his hideout in Kihara, Gachie, and boarded the car to head to the city, allegedly to buy a T-shirt.
Police had been searching for Mugo, and they had set up an ambush at his rural home in Mutu-ini, Dagoretti, but he had evaded capture. His mobile phone numbers had been switched off, and he had bought a new line to communicate with a suspected relative.
On Tuesday, Mugo sent a text message to one of his contacts, requesting a meeting at Utawala or Ruai later in the day. He instructed the contact not to meet in hotels, as public places would blow their cover. They agreed to meet in a car.
Unknown to Mugo, Criminal Intelligence Unit officers had been monitoring the conversations. The contact sent Sh500 airtime to Mugo's number and another Sh1,000 via M-Pesa, which detectives familiar with the case said was a mistake that led to Mugo's arrest.
Police arrested Mugo outside Utalii House and charged him with illegal medical practice and obtaining money by false pretenses. He will be detained for 10 days at Pangani police station as investigations continue.
