Six men posing as matatu operators in Parklands have been arrested for kidnapping and robbing passengers, according to detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU).
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said in a statement on Wednesday, September 18 that the suspects, using a matatu with registration number KAQ 654A, turned against passengers after picking them up, robbing them of valuables, and sometimes abandoning them after completing their criminal activities.
“The six, who have been operating while on board a matatu Reg. No. KAQ 654A, were arrested following a tip-off from a member of the public. The said informer happened to have witnessed the accident where another vehicle was hit and badly damaged by the said matatu along Kipande road,” the statement reads.
The informant reported that the matatu had hit another vehicle shortly after the gang had kidnapped and robbed a passenger.
The robbers fled the scene after the accident, but the witness provided crucial information to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
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The incident leading to their capture occurred when the gang, pretending to be matatu operators headed to town, picked up a female passenger near Kempinski.
As part of their scheme, some gang members disembarked, leaving the woman with the other robbers.
When the robbers attempted to carry out their plan, the woman’s screams for help caused them to panic.
In the chaos, the matatu was involved in an accident, which eventually exposed their activities to the public.
Acting on the tip, OSU detectives arrested Boniface Wachira Mwangi, Jackson Kimani Thuo, Titus Mburu Njonjo, Dennis Omondi Otieno, George Vincent Otieno, and John Waweru Njenga, who was found in possession of five mobile phones and a tablet.
A female accomplice remains at large. Authorities have urged anyone who may have fallen victim to this gang to report to the DCI Headquarters Operations Directorate.
