UPDATE: Thursday, June 16: Police unveiled the identities of the three suspects who were arrested following a robbery at Kandisi in Rongai captured on CCTV camera.
The trio was identified as Robert Kimani Irungu, 24, who resides in Kware, a market center in Rongai, Jane Achieng Ochieng and John Ochieng Oranja both from Kibera.
A manhunt is still on to nab other members of the group whose roots stem from Kawangware.
New details have emerged over the heartbreaking robbery in Kandisi, Rongai, that was captured on CCTV.
After attracting attention on Sunday, June 12, including that of Interior CS Fred Matiang’i as well as the Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, police have discovered that the gang has been in operation for years.
So far, four suspects have been apprehended from as far a radius covering Kawangware and Kasarani areas of Nairobi county and the search for the remaining ones continue.
Police reports indicate that the gang leaders assign a team of attackers to go after an individual and force the victim to transfer money from their bank accounts.
The money is then transferred to mobile money registered under different people who are then tasked with withdrawing the funds in batches so as not to attract suspicion.
The cash is then delivered to their gang leader from where more instructions are given. The cartel has been operating in Nairobi for a long time.
During that period, the gang had succeeded in evading law enforcement by switching off their phones and only turning them on to withdraw the funds when a robbery happens.
Their tactics, however, hit a deadlock after they targeted the Rongai resident which attracted public attention leading to the apprehension of the four.
As of Wednesday, June 15, the police had recovered a pistol linked to the raid and it is estimated that the gang transferred north of Ksh240,000 from the victim’s accounts.
In a statement, police spokesperson, Bruno Shioso, noted that the gun, a Browning in make, and the funds transferred had been recovered.
“In due course of the investigations, detectives have recovered one pistol make – Browning. Some cash money proceeds of the robbery and items of clothing worn by the robbers on that fateful night.
“To date, four suspects have been apprehended and aiding police with further investigations. So far, they are cooperating and they shall be arraigned as per the law,” stated Shioso.
Two of the four suspects were nabbed on Tuesday, June 14, after reportedly withdrawing Ksh240,000 from a mobile money agent in Kasarani area. The police traced them using the wired money.