Three suspects have been arrested in Nairobi's Central Business District in connection with a vehicle break-in incident reported in Murang'a county in May 2025. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the arrests on Sunday, October 4, and identified the suspects. Detectives from Murang'a East Sub-County, working jointly with their counterparts from DCI Central Nairobi, moved on the trio after receiving actionable intelligence.
The arrests were followed by a search of their premises, which yielded 32 assorted mobile phones, a tablet, and a MacBook Air, all suspected to be stolen property. Officers also seized a Lightwave cash-counting machine, 22 empty mobile phone boxes stripped of their IMEI numbers, two counter books, five small books, two notebooks, and 12 receipt books. The presence of empty packaging materials and business records has broadened the scope of the inquiry.
The recovered items are being assessed to determine their connection to additional theft cases beyond the initial Murang'a incident. Investigators are working to trace the origin, ownership, and movement of the recovered devices. Forensic tests will help establish where the recovered phones came from and who owned them. The DCI is urging members of the public with information on stolen phones or related criminal activity to come forward.
The three suspects were escorted to Murang'a Police Station, where they remain in custody as detectives process them ahead of their arraignment. The operation followed a break-in and theft from a locked vehicle that was reported in Murang'a in May 2025, which served as the starting point for the trail leading to the Nairobi arrests. The suspects will face charges related to the theft and possession of stolen property.
In a related incident, two men were arrested in Kisumu over alleged mobile phone tampering and suspected equipment seized from their shop. Investigators suspected the devices' motherboards were being replaced to make stolen phones harder to trace. The arrests in Kisumu and Nairobi demonstrate the DCI's efforts to combat phone theft and related crimes.
The DCI is seeking the public's assistance in tracing the owners of the recovered phones. Members of the public with information can contact the DCI toll-free on 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp at 0709 570 000. The recovered phones and other items will be used as evidence in the upcoming trial.
The successful operation is a result of collaboration between detectives from Murang'a East Sub-County and DCI Central Nairobi. The arrests and recovery of stolen property demonstrate the DCI's commitment to solving and preventing crimes in Kenya.
Key points
- The Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested three suspects and recovered 32 suspected stolen mobile phones in Nairobi's CBD.
- The recovered items are suspected to be linked to a vehicle break-in incident in Murang'a county in May 2025.
- The DCI is seeking the public's assistance in tracing the owners of the recovered phones.
