NAIROBI, Kenya — Detectives have arrested a 47-year-old ex-convict accused of orchestrating a series of violent robberies across parts of Meru County, bringing an end to weeks of fear among residents in the Igembe region.
In a statement Tuesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said officers from its Meru offices, working jointly with the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police Service, arrested Jason Kobia Mucoka, an ex-convict linked to a wave of robberies reported in Mutuati, Laare, Maua, and surrounding areas.
Investigators said Mucoka had recently been released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence for the murder of his brother before allegedly returning to crime.
Authorities claim he later armed himself with an illegal firearm and assembled a gang to carry out violent robberies in the region.
“He armed himself with an illegal firearm, recruited criminal gangs — some already in custody while others are still being pursued — and brazenly threatened to shoot anyone who dared challenge him in the Kabachi area,” the DCI said in a statement.
Multi-Agency Operation
According to investigators, security agencies launched a coordinated operation after receiving intelligence linking the suspect to multiple incidents of robbery and intimidation targeting residents and businesses in the Igembe region.
The joint operation eventually led to his arrest, ending what police described as a weeks-long security threat that had unsettled local communities.
Weapon Recovered
During interrogation, detectives said Mucoka directed officers to a concealed weapons cache near his home.
Police recovered a Pachet submachine gun loaded with six rounds of 9mm ammunition, which had been hidden inside a nearby miraa plantation.
The firearm and ammunition have been secured as exhibits and will undergo forensic examination at the National Police Service Forensic Laboratory to determine whether they were used in previous crimes in the area.
Pending Charges
Mucoka remains in police custody and was expected to be arraigned in court on Wednesday to face several charges, including robbery with violence, illegal possession of a firearm, and threats to kill.
Under Kenya’s Penal Code, robbery with violence carries a severe penalty upon conviction and is treated as one of the most serious criminal offences in the country.
Manhunt for Accomplices
Investigators said efforts are ongoing to track down the suspect’s alleged accomplices. Some members of the suspected gang are already in custody, while others remain at large.
Authorities are also working to determine how the firearm entered circulation and whether it is linked to broader criminal networks involved in the trafficking of illegal weapons.
The DCI said security agencies remain committed to dismantling organized criminal groups and assured residents that operations to curb violent crime in the region will continue.
