Medical Doctor Freed as Police Foil Ksh3 Million Kidnap Plot

A medical doctor who was allegedly abducted by armed suspects and held for a Ksh3 million ransom has been rescued following a joint operation by police officers and members of the public in Athi River.

In a statement on Thursday, August 6, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the victim was rescued safely after officers tracked down the suspects' vehicle.

"Police officers from Athi River Police Station, working in collaboration with members of the public, have rescued a medical doctor who had been abducted by armed suspects who demanded a Ksh3 million ransom for his release.

"The victim, Emmanuel Kerich, was reportedly accosted while in the company of friends at Juja City Mall by three men who handcuffed him before forcing him into a Subaru Forester, registration number KBK 895W," the statement read.

According to the agency, preliminary investigations established that the Subaru Forester used in the alleged abduction had side mirrors displaying a different registration number, KDQ 640F, which investigators believe was intended to disguise the vehicle's identity during the commission of the crime.

The DCI said the suspects allegedly drove the victim through several locations while torturing him and demanding the ransom before heading towards Athi River. 

Acting on intelligence and with support from members of the public, officers tracked the vehicle and intercepted it along the Mavemba–Mugoya Road.

"The suspects then drove the victim through several locations, torturing him and demanding the ransom before proceeding towards Athi River.

"Acting on intelligence and with the assistance of members of the public, police officers trailed and intercepted the vehicle along the Mavemba-Mugoya Road in Athi River," the statement added.

During the operation, two suspects escaped while another was cornered by members of the public and assaulted before police intervened and took him to hospital, where he remains under police guard.

"During the ensuing confrontation, two suspects managed to escape, while one suspect was cornered by members of the public and subjected to mob injustice before officers intervened, rescued him and rushed him to hospital, where he remains under police guard," the statement explained.

The DCI added that the victim was rescued unharmed and officers recovered a pair of handcuffs believed to have been used during the abduction. 

The Subaru Forester has also been detained as an exhibit to assist with ongoing investigations.

"The victim was rescued safely. Officers also recovered a pair of handcuffs believed to have been used during the abduction, while the Subaru Forester has been detained as an exhibit to aid ongoing investigations," the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, detectives have launched a manhunt for the two fugitive suspects as investigations into the alleged kidnapping continue.

This comes days after a man captured in viral CCTV footage linked to the armed robbery of women attending a chama meeting at a salon in Saika, Nairobi, has been arrested. 

In a statement on Tuesday, August 4, the DCI said the suspect was apprehended following an intelligence-led operation. 

The detectives tracked down and arrested the suspect, identified as Dennis Macharia, also known as Mahua, during an operation in Korogocho.

"Detectives from Kayole Police Station have arrested one of the thugs behind the brazen July 26, 2026 robbery that turned a peaceful chama meeting in a Salon at Saika, Nairobi into a scene of terror.

"The detectives swooped in, arresting Dennis Macharia aka Mahua, following an intelligence-led operation in the Korogocho area," the statement read.

According to investigators, the suspect and another man who is still at large allegedly raided the salon while armed with a pistol before robbing the women of cash and mobile phones.

"The suspect together with his accomplice who remains at large, stormed the salon, while armed with a pistol, and robbed a group of unsuspecting women of Ksh50,000 and mobile phones," the statement added.

During the operation, detectives recovered a motorcycle believed to have been used during the robbery, as well as two knives, which have been retained as exhibits to aid the investigation.

"Upon his arrest, detectives recovered a motorcycle, registration KMDE 473B, believed to have been used by the suspects during the robbery, along with two knives, now securely detained as exhibits," the statement further read.