MBOONI EAST, Kenya – Detectives have arrested six persons of interest in connection with a violent highway robbery in Mbumbuni, Mbooni East Sub-County, in the latest incident to underline growing concerns over road safety in rural and peri-urban areas.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspects were apprehended following a swift manhunt after a motorist was attacked while travelling from Mbumbuni to Muuani on Thursday, December 25.
According to the DCI, the complainant was driving a Toyota Probox when the vehicle was ambushed near Sofia Shopping Centre in Muuani by a group of assailants, some riding motorcycles while others lay in wait along the roadside.
“The gang smashed the front windscreen using a shaving machine while brandishing a toy gun, forcing the driver to stop,” the DCI said in a statement posted on X.
SUSPECTS ARRESTED OVER HIGHWAY ROBBERYSix suspects have been apprehended by Law Enforcement Officers in connection with a highway robbery in Mbumbuni, in Mbooni East Sub-County.The case is based on a report by a complainant who was travelling from Mbumbuni to Muuani on board
Investigators said the attackers then assaulted the vehicle’s occupants, leaving them with head injuries, before making off with cash and other valuables.
Officers from Mbumbuni Police Station immediately launched an operation that led to the arrest of six persons of interest.
During follow-up searches, detectives recovered a handbag belonging to the complainant along a footpath leading to the residence of two of the suspects.
A toy pistol was also recovered from one of the suspects, reinforcing police findings that imitation weapons were used to intimidate the victims.
The DCI said the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, ahead of their arraignment in court.
“This successful operation is a clear warning to criminals who prey on innocent motorists that the law will catch up with them,” the agency said.
Police noted that highway robberies are often carefully planned, with gangs monitoring potential targets before striking.
The use of motorcycles and foot accomplices allows quick getaways, posing a significant challenge to law enforcement.
Motorists have been urged to remain vigilant, particularly when travelling through isolated or poorly lit roads, and to report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
