Detectives from Nyandarua and Nakuru are looking for five offenders who kidnapped family members and acquaintances, held them at gunpoint for the theft of cash and other items worth more than Sh500,000, and pretended to be police officials.
The five-member gang in police uniform flagged down the victims in two private vehicles on Saturday night as they were traveling from a wedding along the Ol Kalou-Nakuru highway near Nakuru.
“Armed with rifles, the criminals posing as police officers proceeded to inspect the cars. They then jumped in and drove the victims into a forest where they ransacked and robbed them before they escaped using one of the vehicles. The stolen vehicle…was on Sunday evening discovered burnt at Barnabas area in Nakuru County,” said Nyandarua Central DCI boss Eric Ochieng.
“Our officers from Nakuru and Nyandarua are tracing the criminals. We urge the members of the public to alert the police in case they come across someone selling mobile phones, watches, and other electronics suspected to be stolen. The robbery took place at a place called Ithagani area,” added the DCI boss.
He added that the attackers took control of the cars and drove them towards a woodland while saying they were heading to a police station.
The occupants were forced to disembark and lie down in the forest, where they were robbed of their possessions, which were worth Sh236,200 in cash and M-Pesa transactions, and Sh222,900 in other currency.
Police think the culprits could have monitored the victims for hours before waylaying them. The criminals tied the victims to the trees before making off in one of the automobiles.
“It is possible they even attended the wedding or had informers at the wedding,” said a detective investigating the incident.
Among the stolen items from the 10 victims are mobile phones, wrist watches, personal documents including ATM cards, driving licences, a school admission letter, medical insurance cover cards, a Sony camera, and bags containing clothes, among other items and personal effects.
Mr Ochieng said that none of the victims was injured during the attack.
