By Wanja Waweru
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Ruiru and Nakuru have freed an Egerton University student who was abducted five days ago.
Three men kidnapped Ms. Daisy Chebet Barno, a fourth-year student, on Thursday at Kabarak in Nakuru County. Later, she was taken by car to Nairobi.
Simon Akuteka, 39, John Mbau, 38, Elijah Chege, 31, and Faith Mwende were detained at an Airbnb unit in Ruiru.
DCI said in a tweet that Ms. Chebet’s acquaintance Faith Mwende plotted to abduct her and demand a ransom from her family with the help of her boyfriend and other accomplices.
Ms. Mwende’s boyfriend, Mr. Akuteka, had invited Ms. Chebet to lunch at Kabarak on the day she was abducted.
Mr. Akuteka drove the two to the car and then made his way to Kabarak to pick up a package. However, two men eventually joined them on their journey. The three told Ms. Chebet that they had taken her and needed her family to pay a ransom of Sh600,000.
“The three drove to Ruiru to OJ Restaurant where they booked a two-bedroom Airbnb and locked Ms Chebet in one of the bedrooms. Mwende who had joined them took the other bedroom where they made merry with her partner after Ms Chebet sent Sh50,000,” stated the post
However, detectives who had received a distressed call from Ms Chebet’s family traced the four who operated between Thika, Murang’a, Kajiado and Ruiru during the day.
Detectives based at the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau pounced on the four in the rented apartment. The suspects defied orders to surrender and engaged the officers in a fistfight.
The primary suspect, Mr. Akuteka, is a wanted man with numerous car theft cases pending before the courts in Nairobi and Kisumu, according to preliminary investigations. The courts are currently hearing related matters involving Mr. Mbau as well.
During the raid, detectives from Nakuru and Ruiru managed to save Ms. Chebet.
Cellotape, a rope, mobile phones, SIM cards, and identity cards were found on the suspects during the arrest process.
“The four are in police custody helping police with investigations before being arraigned,” stated the post.
