Detectives have recovered 32 mobile phones suspected to have been stolen in different incidents following the arrest of three men in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
The operation, led by detectives from Murang’a East Sub-County in collaboration with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Central Nairobi, followed investigations into a break-in and theft from a locked motor vehicle reported in Murang’a in May 2025.
According to the DCI, the investigation took a new turn after detectives obtained information linking the stolen property to suspects operating within Nairobi.
The officers on Sunday descended on the Nairobi CBD, where they arrested three suspects identified as Michael Waweru, Wilson Wanjama and Samuel Kimani.
A subsequent search of their premises led to the recovery of 32 assorted mobile phones and a tablet, which detectives believe could be stolen property.
The officers also recovered a MacBook Air laptop and a Lightwave cash-counting machine during the operation.
Detectives further found 22 empty mobile-phone boxes bearing no International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.
Two counter books, five small books, two notebooks and 12 receipt books were also seized.
Investigators believe the packaging materials and business records could provide crucial leads into how the suspected stolen phones were received, packaged and sold.
The items are expected to help detectives establish the origin and ownership of the recovered devices and trace their movement before they were seized.
The investigation is also expected to determine whether the suspects are connected to other cases involving stolen mobile phones in Nairobi, Murang’a and other parts of the country.
The recovery comes as detectives continue to target networks involved in the handling and sale of stolen electronic devices, particularly mobile phones that can easily be moved between counties.
The three suspects were escorted to Murang’a Police Station, where they are being held as detectives complete investigations.
They are expected to be presented in court once the necessary investigative procedures are concluded.
Police have urged members of the public who have lost mobile phones to report the cases and provide relevant ownership details to investigators to assist in identifying and recovering stolen devices.