Three suspects linked to a string of violent robberies targeting motorists and businesspeople along Mombasa Road and its environs have been arrested in a coordinated operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The suspects—Boniface Kilonzo Mwaniki, Josphat Musili, and Muia Mutune—were tracked down by detectives from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau and the Operation Action Team following weeks of investigations into a series of high-value robberies carried out by individuals posing as police officers.
Detectives say the gang used deception and intimidation, often dressing in police uniforms and reflector jackets to stop unsuspecting victims before robbing them at gunpoint. In one of the incidents reported on January 23, 2026, a Chinese national was flagged down along Kyang’ombe on old Mombasa Road by two men in what appeared to be traffic police attire. The suspects demanded her driving licence, then quickly turned on her, commandeering her vehicle and escaping with Sh2.14 million in cash she had just withdrawn from Diamond Trust Bank and Standard Chartered Bank branches along Mombasa Road.
In another case on March 17, 2026, a businessman who had withdrawn Sh4.2 million from Equity Bank Utawala Branch was intercepted by four men in police uniforms near Gateway Mall. The attackers accused him of trafficking narcotics, handcuffed him, and forced him into their vehicle before stealing the cash. He was later abandoned in Karen.
A third victim, who had been sent to deliver Sh1.4 million withdrawn from Kenya Commercial Bank along Mombasa Road, recounted how she and a motorcycle rider were ambushed at Cabanas Interchange. The gang, driving a grey Mazda CX-5, posed as police officers, forced them into their vehicle, blindfolded them, and robbed them of the cash and mobile phones before dumping them in Utawala.
The breakthrough came after detectives followed forensic leads that linked the incidents. The three suspects were arrested in separate locations—Lusaka Road, Dandora Phase IV, and Kalawa Shopping Centre in Makueni County. Authorities recovered a Mazda CX-5 believed to have been used in the robberies, along with a military jungle hat and reflector jackets suspected to have been used as disguises.
Investigators now believe the suspects are part of a larger, well-organized criminal network that frequently changes vehicle number plates to evade detection. The recovered vehicle is suspected to have operated under multiple registration numbers during different robberies.
The suspects remain in custody as they undergo processing ahead of their arraignment in court. Meanwhile, detectives say efforts are ongoing to track down additional members of the gang who are still at large.
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in tackling a wave of violent robberies that have left victims shaken and exposed the dangers of criminals impersonating law enforcement officers. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving individuals posing as police.
