Operatives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have raided several homes in Nyeri and Nanyuki and recovered several items believed to have been stolen during protests.
Among the items seized following the raid are washing machines, refrigerators, water dispensers, bicycles, kitchenware, food items and items of clothing among many others.
During the first operation conducted on Thursday, July 4, 2024, DCI detectives raided a rental house in Nanyuki where they recovered a Hisense fridge, Uken water dispenser, coffee cups, teaspoons, hotpot dishes, luminarc plates among others.
A 24-year-old Chris Nduni Wamuhu was arrested and detectives noted that he was captured in one of the circulated phone recordings stealing from the supermarket.
In another house still in Nanyuki, sleuths recovered 22 pairs of khaki trousers, nine t-shirts, 24 undergarments (boxers) and sandals. Moses Njuguna Gachwe was apprehended at the house.
“In the outskirts of the town at Asian Quarters, 35-year-old Charles Kaariri Mumbi was also arrested with a junior ride bike, while John Ndirangu Ndirirtu, 41, was found with six vacuum flasks, a shopping trolley, an LG fridge and several luminarc plates and cups,” DCI stated.
“Several other suspects have so far been arrested and more recoveries made, as police continue investigations to nab other identifiable persons captured igniting the fires and disappearing with stolen goods.”
The supermarkets are linked to a local political leader from the Mt Kenya region.
According to detectives who conducted the operation, most of the suspects were apprehended after they obtained footage showing their faces at the crime scene.
The arrested suspects are expected to be processed before their arraignment.
DCI dispatches detectives
Their arrest comes just a day after DCI dispatched a team of detectives in various parts of the country to track criminals and goons who had infiltrated protests.
In a statement, DCI noted that the detectives would track down and bring the suspects recorded wreaking havoc to book.
So far several suspects have been arrested and others arraigned.
However, DCI is still pleading with public help to track over 40 suspects whose faces were published for various criminal activities.
This followed direct orders from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki over goons who had infiltrated the protests. Kindiki vowed decisive action against those responsible for the anarchy and assured the public that the planners, financiers, and executors of the violence would be held accountable once the ongoing investigation is complete.
“Upon completion of the ongoing evidential analysis, the government assures the public that the planners, executors, and financiers of large-scale arson, violent robberies, and other felonious crimes will be brought to justice,” the CS Kindiki announced.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary emphasized the government’s resolve to stop criminals from terrorizing the public and harming the nation, despite attempts to politicize crime.
“This reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of dangerous criminal gangs must end at whatever cost,” Kindiki warned.