Police arrested four suspects connected to two violent robberies reported in Naivasha and Gilgil, Nakuru County.
In a statement, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspects were arrested on February 24 in Njoro, Nakuru County.
The police recovered a motor vehicle stolen in one of the robberies during the arrest.
“The recovered vehicle has since been towed and detained at Njoro Police Station where the suspects were also booked pending further police action,” said the DCI.
DCI explained that a joint team of Nairobi and Nakuru detectives was pursuing a robbery incident reported at Naivasha Police Station when they encountered the suspects on February 14.
How Police Cornered the Suspects
Acting on intelligence, the team intercepted two suspects believed to be accomplices in the case, who were driving a Mitsubishi truck (FH) Reg. No KCB 383Z.
“Upon interrogations, detectives established that the two suspects; Evans Mwangi Njenga, 45 and Geoffrey Kamau Hinga, 53 were on their way to meet two other suspected accomplices in Njoro town.
An ambush staged came through when Peter Wahinyo Wanyoike, 45 and Julius Gichagu Wanguno, 32 dropped at the vehicle looking for their suspected partners in crime,” said the DCI.
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The Lorry’s Driver
It was further established that the said truck had been robbed in Gilgil at Elementaita area.
“The 38-year-old driver who had been hired to offer transport services was abducted, sodomized and left tied up at a construction site within Punda Milia section on Friday, February 23,” read the statement in part.
Additionally, the driver was robbed off Ksh55,000 and his mobile phone by a six-member gang, who disabled the lorry tracker and disappeared.
The victim had been rushed to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital for treatment.
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DCI Warning
DCI on February 16 warned taxi operators of an ongoing trend by criminal gangs that are hiring taxi services for either long distances or trips.
The DCI explained that the criminals pose as rich customers only to turn violent robbers along the way.
“The “customer” negotiates with the taxi driver on the charges for the trip, and while on the way communicates with one or more accomplices who will be conveniently waiting along the route,” said DCI.
DCI explained that the drivers always fall victims and let new passengers onboard since the “customer” promises extra inconvenience fee for the stops.
Besides, the route or destinations picked will usually have secluded areas, where the gangs turn against the drivers, robs them off their vehicles and at times murder them in cold blood.
