Police have unmasked a five-member gang believed to be behind a string of violent armed robberies that have rocked Nakuru County in the last one month, a major breakthrough in addressing the rising wave of crime in the region.
The suspects, William Nywhili Rioba, Nyahili Nyamuhaga Magige, Emmanuel Muita Muita, Catherine Nkatha Zakayo, and Peter Chacha, were arrested during a coordinated operation spearheaded by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The sting operation was carried out by officers from the Operation Action Team, the Crime Research Bureau, and a team of detectives based at the Nakuru Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Acting on intelligence, the team raided the suspects’ hideouts and, during a search in the Rhoda area, recovered an AK-47 rifle (serial number 18916) loaded with three rounds of ammunition. The weapon was found concealed in dry grass near a residential home.
The gang is suspected to be behind multiple violent attacks across Nakuru. Among the most chilling was the Sunday night ambush of police officers on foot patrol, which left one officer dead and two others critically injured.
In another incident in the Soilo area, the group allegedly dragged a 24-year-old shopkeeper from his premises, assaulted him with machetes and daggers, and shot him dead before making off with a significant amount of cash.
Authorities say the suspects will be arraigned on Tuesday, June 3, even as investigations into their alleged criminal activities continue to uncover more leads and possible links to other incidents.
This development comes amid growing public concern over increasing armed robberies and general insecurity in Nakuru, a county that has recently recorded a worrying spike in criminal activity.
The DCI has pledged to intensify its crackdown on organized crime networks across the country, aiming to enhance public safety and restore citizens’ confidence in law enforcement.
“We assure Nakuru residents and all Kenyans that we are working tirelessly to rid our streets of armed criminals,” said a DCI, in a social media post. “This is part of a broader effort to dismantle gangs and make our towns safer.”
Police say anti-robbery units are actively pursuing additional suspects believed to be linked to broader criminal networks operating across the County, as investigations into the gang’s activities continue to uncover new leads.