Three suspected thugs were on Thursday nabbed for allegedly robbing passengers in a matatu of their mobile phones and other valuables in Nairobi.
The trio; Vincent Obongo (38), Edward Kimani (22), and Mohamed Idi Ndote (27), is said to have been disguised as genuine matatu operators plying the Mombasa Road route around the Nyayo stadium area.
A report from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that the men were operating PSV vehicles when they were apprehended by officers on patrol along Mombasa road shortly after a robbery incident.
“The robbery suspects were arrested by a contingent of officers on patrol at the Nyayo stadium roundabout at 2 am this morning, after they robbed passengers in a matatu of their mobile phones and other valuables,” read the statement.
As the detectives implored the public to be vigilant in order to root out such offenders, DCI identified ‘Usiku Sacco’ matatus as unroadworthy saying most of them operate without the required documentation.
“In a crime that is gaining currency in the city, the crew posing as genuine matatu operators sneak out PSV vehicles taken to garages for repairs and use them to illegally ferry passengers at night, before robbing them of their valuables,” noted the DCI.
The multi-agency body is now calling on citizens to be on the lookout for passenger vehicles operating in the same manner in areas not indicated or highlighted on the vehicle’s routes.
DCI sleuths drawn from Lang’ata where the suspects are held have since contacted the owners of the phones recovered to record their statements.
