Two Indian nationals allegedly kidnapped shortly after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been rescued, with three Pakistani nationals suspected of holding them hostage arrested.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the arrests followed a swift intelligence-led operation by detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU).
Investigations established that the two victims arrived at JKIA on August 10, 2026, and were cleared by Immigration at about 2:50 pm.
Shortly after leaving the airport, they were received by two men, and the four boarded a white Nissan Note before driving away.
The reported kidnapping triggered investigations, with detectives pursuing crucial leads that led them to a bungalow in Tumaini Estate, Nkoroi, on the outskirts of Rongai in Kajiado South.
Detectives searched the house and found the two missing Indian nationals in one of the bedrooms.
According to the DCI, the victims had been bound at the hands and legs and appeared visibly distressed.
"Three Pakistani nationals found at the house were immediately arrested. Investigations further established that the suspects had contacted the victims’ family members in India through WhatsApp and demanded a ransom of USD 32,000 for their release," the DCI said in a statement on Friday.
The investigation later led detectives to a spot about two kilometres from the house, where they recovered the victims’ mobile phones hidden in a thicket.
"The three suspects are in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment, as detectives continue piecing together the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and pursuing further leads into a suspected kidnapping-for-ransom network," the DCI said.
The suspects remain in custody as detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction and establish whether they were part of a wider kidnapping-for-ransom network.
Kidnapping and abduction are criminal offences under Kenyan law and attract prison sentences depending on the circumstances of the offence.
The DCI said it remains committed to protecting all persons within Kenya’s borders and will continue pursuing individuals suspected of involvement in kidnapping, ransom-related crimes and other serious offences.
