Mtito Andei: Police arrest 3 persons of interest over daring highway robbery incident

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced the arrest of three suspects believed to be involved in a series of highway robberies in Mtito Andei. The agency disclosed the development on X on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The arrest came after a deadly shootout during a robbery attempt on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway on May 6, 2026, near Mutomo in Mtito Andei.

The suspects had allegedly lured a transit driver by posing as victims of a roadside emergency. Upon the driver stopping, the gang attempted to hijack his Subaru Impreza at gunpoint. The plan was foiled when the driver wrestled the firearm from one of the attackers, resulting in the fatal shooting of the assailant. The remaining members of the gang fled the scene on a motorcycle, abandoning the deceased.

Subsequent detective operations led to the arrest of two suspects on Friday, August 21, 2026, at a hideout in Kinyambu. The third suspect was apprehended on the following day at a shop in Kinyambu. During the searches of the suspects' residences, detectives recovered several items, including two mobile phones, several identity cards, and multiple driving licenses bearing different names.

The three arrested individuals are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, August 24, 2026, to face charges that include murder, attempted robbery with violence, and possession of ammunition without a valid license. The DCI intends to dismantle criminal networks targeting motorists and other road users along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

The agency has been urging the public to report any suspicious criminal activity through its anonymous reporting channels.