Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched a sting operation targeting gang members who carried out a seriously disturbing robbery on members of the public on Tuesday during President William Ruto's visit.
In its latest crackdown, the DCI confirmed the arrest of eight individuals reported to have robbed members of the public of valuable goods during the incident.
Among those arrested by the detectives is a suspected gang member who was reportedly armed with a knife during the incident and robbed an individual of an Oppo A77S mobile phone valued at Ksh28,000.
The suspect was apprehended along Thika Road on Thursday and later taken to Pangani Police Station. He will be presented in court to answer to charges of robbery with violence.
"In response to a disturbing series of attacks and robberies targeting innocent members of the public along Thika Highway on March 11, 2025, police officers have launched a crackdown to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for these criminal acts and ensure public safety is restored," the DCI shared in a report.
"So far, a suspect, who was armed with a knife when he attacked and robbed an unsuspecting individual of an Oppo A77S mobile phone valued at Sh28,000, was arrested. Oginga was apprehended along Thika Highway and was escorted to Pangani Police Station," it added.
Further, detectives arrested seven other suspects in Nairobi's Mathare estate, where they are reported to have robbed members of the public of their phones when President Ruto toured the area.
The suspects were taken to Muthaiga Police Station and later arraigned before the court to answer to robbery charges.
"Seven suspects who are among a group of ten who robbed members of the public of their phones and other valuables in Mathare Area 4 were arrested. The suspects were escorted to Muthaiga Police Station. Also recovered from their possession were seven brand-new shirts, believed to be stolen property," a statement from the DCI added.
The DCI assured members of the public that they were pursuing other suspects who they believe participated in the crimes.
The arrests come just two days after chaos engulfed a section of Thika Road after rowdy youth descended on passengers, motorists, and shops, stealing and looting after Ruto’s tour of Mathare and its environs.
Footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed the youth storming shops with others attacking motorists on the Thika Super Highway, rendering sections of the road impassable.
