DCI detectives have arrested a suspect linked to a viral robbery incident in Nairobi’s Parklands area in which a member of the public was attacked and robbed of valuables before the attackers fled the scene.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said detectives from Gigiri arrested Obed Makori along the Northern Bypass after investigations linked him to the robbery that was captured on video and widely shared on social media.
According to the DCI, Makori was part of a group that attacked a member of the public before robbing him of his valuables and fleeing the scene.
The incident sparked public outrage after footage emerged showing a foreign national being accosted by a gang in the busy Parklands neighbourhood during the day.
The DCI said a firearm was recovered after the suspect allegedly dropped it during the incident.
Makori’s weapon was secured by police as an exhibit in the case.
Police said the suspect remained at large after the robbery and had evaded arrest until detectives tracked him down in the latest operation.
Accomplices Still at Large
The DCI said Makori is currently in custody and is undergoing processing pending his arraignment in court.
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Detectives are continuing with investigations and are pursuing additional leads aimed at identifying and arresting other suspects linked to the robbery.
The agency said the suspect’s accomplices remain at large.
“The suspect is in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment, as detectives pursue additional leads to trail and apprehend his accomplices who remain at large,” the DCI said.
The agency reiterated its commitment to pursuing violent offenders, disrupting criminal networks and ensuring those responsible for attacks on members of the public are brought to justice.
The arrest follows investigations into the robbery incident that was captured on video and widely shared on social media.
Increased Daylight Robberies in Nairobi
Multiple daylight robbery incidents were reported in Parklands in the days preceding the viral case, with armed men on motorbikes targeting residents and visitors.
Common tactics involve motorcycle-riding groups for rapid approach and escape, coordinated teams that pin victims to the ground or surround them, use of knives, batons or firearms which are sometimes concealed, and swift seizure of phones, cash, handbags and other valuables before fleeing into traffic.
Larger groups of 20–30 have been recorded operating in the CBD, occasionally disguising themselves among crowds.
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Primary hotspot areas are Parklands, CBD areas along Kimathi Street, Tom Mboya Street, Moi Avenue, National Archives vicinity and stretches near Galitos, Westlands, Thika Road estates including Roysambu, Kasarani, Zimmerman, Githurai 44 and Kahawa, as well as parts of Eastlands such as Saika.
Nairobi Tops National Crime Statistics
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2026 shows that crimes reported to police declined by 5.1 per cent to 96,038 cases in 2025 from 101,220 in 2024.
The report recorded 3,261 robbery cases in 2025, down from 3,642 the previous year, while stealing cases fell to 16,430 from 17,560.
Despite the national decline, the Nairobi City police command continued to account for the largest share of reported crimes in the country.
KNBS data shows Nairobi accounted for 10.4 per cent of all crimes reported between 2021 and 2025, the highest proportion among police commands nationwide.
The report also indicates that offences against persons remained among the most commonly reported crimes, while authorities recovered 427 illegally held firearms in 2025, up from 104 recovered in 2024.
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