Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters have arrested three suspects linked to a series of violent robberies targeting motorists and businesspeople in Nairobi and its environs, in incidents marked by the use of police impersonation and coordinated surveillance tactics.
According to the DCI’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and the Operation Action Team (OAT), the suspects were tracked down following a sustained investigation into multiple cases involving theft of millions of shillings withdrawn from banks along Mombasa Road and surrounding commercial zones.
One of the most striking incidents occurred on January 23, 2026, when a Chinese national was robbed of Sh2,140,000 shortly after withdrawing cash from two banks along Mombasa Road.
Investigators report that while driving along Kyang’ombe area on Old Mombasa Road, she was flagged down by a dark grey vehicle, registration number KDT 317F, carrying two men dressed in what appeared to be traffic police uniforms.
Believing they were legitimate officers, she complied when they demanded her driving licence. In that brief interaction, the suspects reportedly forced their way into her vehicle and drove off with the cash.
In a separate but similarly executed incident on March 17, 2026, a complainant who had withdrawn Sh4.2 million from Equity Bank’s Utawala branch was intercepted along Mombasa Road near Gateway Mall.
The attackers, four men dressed in blue police uniforms and reflector jackets, allegedly accused him of trafficking narcotics before handcuffing, hooding, and forcing him into their vehicle. He was later abandoned in Karen after the money was stolen.
Another victim reported losing Sh1.4 million after being ambushed near Cabanas Interchange while transporting funds entrusted to her by her employer.
The attackers, travelling in a grey Mazda CX-5, registration KDQ 170T, allegedly forced her off a motorcycle, blindfolded her, and stole the money before dumping her near Komarock Hospital in Utawala.
Following these coordinated attacks, detectives launched forensic-led investigations that led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Boniface Kilonzo Mwaniki, apprehended along Lusaka Road; Josphat Musili, arrested in Dandora Phase IV; and Muia Mutune, arrested at Kalawa Shopping Centre in Makueni County.
During the arrests, police recovered a Mazda CX-5 vehicle, registration KDW 016H, believed to have been used in the robberies.
Also seized were items linked to the operations, including a military jungle hat and three reflector jackets, which investigators say were used to impersonate law enforcement officers.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects are part of a wider organised criminal network that systematically alters vehicle registration plates to evade detection while targeting individuals withdrawing large sums of money from banks.
The suspects are currently in custody undergoing processing ahead of arraignment in court. Meanwhile, detectives say investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to identify and apprehend additional members of the syndicate still at large.
The DCI has urged members of the public to remain vigilant, particularly when transporting large sums of money, and to report any suspicious activity along major highways and banking corridors.