NAIROBI, Kenya — Detectives have arrested three suspects believed to be part of a gang linked to the armed robbery at Chaiiwali Restaurant along General Mathenge Road in Nairobi’s Westlands area, as investigations into the July 4 incident intensify.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by detectives from DCI Headquarters at an apartment in Githurai Mwiki, where the suspects had allegedly gone into hiding.
Dramatic Escape Attempt Foiled
According to the DCI, the suspects attempted to flee after noticing the detectives by climbing down from the sixth floor of the apartment building through the rear.
Their escape attempt was, however, thwarted after members of the public raised the alarm, enabling detectives to apprehend them.
The suspects were identified as: Edison Mukama, alias Musa Abdul, a 22-year-old Rwandan national, Adens Kikanga, 25 and John Njuguna Githinji, 25.
Police said a female suspect who was at the apartment managed to escape during the operation and remains at large.
Firearms Recovered
A subsequent search of premises in Githurai Kimbo’s Manguo area led to the recovery of:
- A Mini Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of 9mm ammunition.
- A Retay Falcon pistol loaded with five rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The firearms have been seized as exhibits.
Linked to Chaiiwali Restaurant Robbery
Preliminary investigations have linked the three suspects to the armed robbery that occurred on July 4, 2026, at Chaiiwali Restaurant.
The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed armed men storming the restaurant, robbing customers of mobile phones and other valuables before firing shots into the air as they fled on motorcycles.
The recovered firearms will undergo ballistic and forensic examination at the National Police Service Forensic Laboratory to determine whether they were used in the Chaiiwali robbery or any other violent crimes.
Investigations Continue
The suspects remain in police custody as detectives continue searching for other members of the gang, including the female suspect who escaped during the raid.
The DCI said investigations are ongoing as officers seek to dismantle the criminal network believed to be behind the robbery.