On September 3, KTN Journalist Franklin Wallah was accosted by a gang while heading home, robbing him of his mobile phones among other valuables.
In a post on Instagram after the robbery, Wallah said, "Just when I was about to get home, they robbed me at knifepoint (plus other crude weapons), took my two phones, a watch, and some money. I pity them for what they have done for they know not."
Weeks after the ordeal, some of the suspected assailants were apprehended during a raid by DCI officers in the Nairobi Central Business District on Saturday, October 28.
The officers launched an operation to capture the gang that had been terrorising residents from different areas of the city.
Two laptops, 154 mobile phones and one tablet were recovered in the operation with seven suspects arrested in the process.
Those arrested were identified as John Njenga, Noah Wanyoike, Brian Ojiambo, Zablon Gathambi, Lawrence Baraka, Brown Okutoi and Simon Mwangi.
Sources told Kenyans.co.ke that the suspects were caught after a phone that was taken from the journalist was traced and detected at the base of operation where the loot is sanitised for sale.
Police led by Central OCPD Stanley Atavachi raided the premise where they recovered the other gadgets.
The suspects were held at Central Police Station as police continued to track down the owners of the phones.
They were presented in court on Monday, October 28, as they shall face more charges depending on statements from owners and conditions of how the phones were acquired.
If charged with Robbery with Violence, Section 296 (2) of the Penal Code provides that if found guilty, the offenders shall be sentenced to death.
