Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have warned members of the public about the growing number of car thefts in the country.
In a public statement on Thursday afternoon, the DCI officers revealed that they received numerous motor vehicle theft cases since the year began.
They further noted that the alarming trend resulted in substantial losses, which negatively impacted the economy through increased insurance claims and unpaid loans.
According to the detectives, the robberies occurred under various circumstances, including theft from parking lots, car hire scams, robbery with violence and carjacking.
To curb the soaring cases of vehicle theft in the country, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), through its Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), has initiated an operation to identify and dismantle criminal networks linked to the thefts.
"The operation targeted high-risk counties, including Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Embu, Machakos, Kajiado, Nairobi, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, and Bungoma," the detectives revealed.
The operation, conducted jointly with the Operation Action Team (OAT) based at the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road, led to the arrest of 28 suspects.
During the crackdown, officers also recovered 22 stolen vehicles, many of which had been sold to unsuspecting buyers within Kenya or smuggled into neighbouring countries, primarily Uganda and Tanzania.
"All apprehended suspects have been arraigned in various courts across the country to face charges related to motor vehicle theft, fraud, and related offences," the DCI officers confirmed.
While announcing plans to intensify the crackdown, the detectives urged Kenyans to enhance personal and vehicle security by installing anti-theft devices, parking in secure locations, verifying car hire clients, staying vigilant on the road, and cross-checking vehicle documents.
"The National Police Service remains committed to eradicating motor vehicle theft and ensuring the safety of all Kenyans. We have intensified our intelligence-gathering efforts and are collaborating with regional partners to curb the cross-border trade of stolen vehicles," the officers noted.
"The public is encouraged to cooperate by providing timely information to assist in apprehending criminals and recovering stolen property by contacting the nearest police station or using our toll-free line: 999, 112."
