Detectives in Trans Nzoia county are investigating an armed robbery in which a woman and her partner were allegedly robbed of Sh1.7 million shortly after withdrawing the money from two banks in Kitale.
The incident occurred on September 25, 2026, in Village-In area within Sirende Ward, Kiminini Sub-County.
According to police, the couple had travelled to Kitale town, where the woman withdrew a total of Sh1.7 million from two banks.
The two were travelling home in a silver Toyota Fielder at around 3 pm when they were allegedly intercepted near their estate by another silver Toyota Fielder.
A group of men reportedly emerged from the vehicle, with one of them allegedly pointing a gun at the man before hitting him with a metal rod.
The man sustained a head injury during the attack.
The assailants allegedly made away with Sh1.7 million in cash, two mobile phones—a Tecno Camon 40 and Tecno Camon 49—three ATM cards and an identification card.
Police have launched investigations into the robbery and are pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the suspects.
Such incidents happen due to an inside job. Police say investigations have shown such attacks happen after the attackers get inside information on the transactions involved.
This can be from the financial institutions or the victims.
Police say investigations are ongoing to crack the gangs behind the trend which has been happening in urban areas.
Past investigations have linked such incidents to rogue bank staff who leak information to thugs about transactions of their clients.
Investigations have also linked prior information from the clients’ side to the attacks.
Other thugs stay in banks pretending to be customers with an aim of noticing those withdrawing money for attacks, police say.
Elsewhere, police in Thika arrested a 26-year-old man suspected of being involved in a series of phone-snatching incidents and recovered a motorcycle and assorted military camouflage combat uniforms allegedly used in the crimes.
The suspect was arrested during a joint operation in the Kiandutu area of Thika Town.
The operation targeted wanted persons and other criminal activities in the area.
Police said the suspect was found in possession of a red Boxer motorcycle suspected to have been used in phone-snatching offences.
The motorcycle is also suspected to have been stolen and was recovered for further investigation.
During the operation, officers also recovered assorted military camouflage combat uniforms from business premises within the area.
According to police, the uniforms are suspected to have been used by robbers during the commission of criminal activities.
The occupant of the premises reportedly fled after noticing the presence of security officers and had not been traced by the time of the report.
The recovered uniforms have been secured as exhibits as investigations continue.
Police said the suspect was also wanted in connection with another pending case before the Thika Law Courts, for which a warrant of arrest had been issued.
Cases of mobile phone snatching have been on the rise in major urban areas amid police operations to contain the crime.
Police say some of the stolen gadgets are refurbished and sold to unsuspecting buyers locally, while others are shipped to neighbouring countries where they are sold.
Dozens of suspects have been arrested in operations that were mounted in several areas and are facing charges in court.
Police discourage people from buying such gadgets and advise one to demand official receipts if she or he buys the same.
