Three arraigned in Thika over robbery with violence charges

Three suspected criminals linked to a series of violent crimes, including murder, robbery and abductions in Kiambu and Murang’a counties, have been arraigned in court following a multi-agency police operation.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the trio was presented before the Thika Law Courts on March 9, 2026, where they faced charges of robbery with violence.

According to DCI, the suspects were arrested following an intelligence-led operation conducted by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations drawn from the Operations Support Unit (OSU), the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), as well as officers from Kiambu, Thika West and Gatanga.

In one of the incidents outlined in court, the suspects allegedly shot a victim in the neck before robbing him of his mobile phone and fleeing the scene, leaving the injured victim behind.

The three denied the charges when they appeared before the court and were remanded at Thika West Police Station as the case proceeds.

Court documents also linked two of the suspects to the murder of a 75-year-old businessman who was abducted from Thika town on January 22, 2026. The victim was later found dead.

The suspects are expected to take a plea on the murder charges on March 16, 2026.

In addition, DCI disclosed that one of the suspects is also facing a separate charge of escape from lawful custody dating back to July 5, 2019. The escape occurred while several remandees were being transported from Thika Law Courts to Industrial Area Prison.

Police said the suspect allegedly escaped alongside several other inmates during the transfer.

As detectives continue to piece together the gang’s activities, a production order has also been issued requiring the suspects to appear before the Kikuyu Law Courts on March 12, 2026, where they are expected to face additional charges of robbery with violence.

Investigations into the alleged criminal network remain ongoing as detectives seek to establish whether the suspects are linked to other similar crimes reported in the region.

Earlier, police arrested four suspects believed to be members of an armed gang linked to a series of violent robberies and killings in Migori County.

Police said the gang is suspected to have carried out multiple attacks across Kuria West Sub-County, targeting homes, businesses and individuals in night-time raids that often ended in serious injuries or death.

One of the incidents occurred in Kehancha Chini, where four armed men reportedly stormed a home occupied by two brothers, one of whom was a businessman involved in the gold trade between Kenya and Tanzania.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, one of the attackers was armed with an assault rifle while the others carried crude weapons.

Police said the gang ordered the victims to surrender their valuables before making away with Sh20 million belonging to a 23-year-old businessman.

Investigators said one of the assailants shot the businessman through the mouth, killing him before the gang fled the scene.

Police officers from Kehancha Police Station, working alongside DCI detectives, responded to the scene and documented evidence before transferring the body to Kehancha Sub-County Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.

Investigations later indicated the same gang may be linked to a series of violent robberies reported across Kuria West as detectives continue with inquiries.