The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has intensified its crackdown on organized theft syndicates, making significant arrests in Nairobi and Kirinyaga counties.
In Embakasi, four suspects were caught red-handed on Sunday, August 31, attempting to cart away bags of lentils from a godown. Acting on a tip-off, detectives, in collaboration with enforcement officers from Embakasi Sub-County, intercepted the suspects as they loaded the stolen legumes onto a waiting lorry. The swift response not only prevented a potential loss of property but also highlighted the growing role of community intelligence in fighting crime.
“The suspects were caught in the act, the scene documented, and key evidence secured,” DCI noted in a statement. The four are currently in custody awaiting arraignment.
This dramatic arrest came just hours after detectives struck another blow against criminal networks, dismantling a livestock theft syndicate in Kirinyaga County. Eight individuals, including thieves, transporters, buyers, and butchers, were apprehended during a meticulously planned raid in Kagio and Mwea towns. According to investigators, the group had been terrorizing farmers across Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyeri, and Murang’a counties, stealing cattle under the cover of darkness and selling them through underground networks.
“Operating in well-coordinated rings, these groups inflicted heavy financial losses on farmers, undermining their main source of livelihood,” the DCI revealed. The arrests are seen as a major step toward dismantling criminal enterprises that have instilled fear in rural communities.
The two operations demonstrate a renewed resolve by law enforcement to safeguard property and livelihoods. They also underscore the importance of public cooperation, as many of the arrests were made possible through tip-offs from vigilant citizens.
As the suspects prepare to face justice, the DCI has vowed to remain unrelenting in its pursuit of criminal gangs, signalling a broader campaign to restore security and protect both businesses and farmers from the rising number of theft cases.
