Five-member gang terrorising cab drivers in Kiambu arrested

Five-member gang terrorising cab drivers in Kiambu arrested

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a five-member gang for reportedly terrorising taxi operators in Kiambu County.

The gang – comprising of Peter Njoroge Kirika, John Muchoki Gatuhu, John Kimani Nganga, Peter Mwangi Murima and Benson Itimu Kariuki – is said to have been operating between Githurai, Ruiru and Kirigiti in Kiambu targeting Little Cab drivers.

According to the DCI, one of the gang members poses as a cab passenger but once inside, squeezes the driver’s neck from the back seat and commandeers the vehicle to a secluded area where his accomplices join him.

They then assault the driver and rob him of his valuables before vandalizing the vehicle.

Detectives said on February 10 this year, one of the thugs used a fake identity to request a cab from Githurai Kimbo to Kirigiti to allegedly pick his ailing mother who needed urgent medical attention.

However, on reaching Kirigiti where they were supposed to pick the ailing woman, a male adult emerged and entered the vehicle instead.

They then reportedly commandeered the vehicle to the Sasini coffee bushes where three other accomplices emerged and they vandalised the car making away with headlights, tail lights, side mirrors, mirror switches, car battery, and the spare wheel.

The gang is said to have also carjacked two other cab drivers in similar fashion soon afterwards, robbing them of their valuables before vandalising their vehicles and abandoning them in Mwihoko, Githurai, in the middle of the night.

DCI sleuths based in Githurai and Ruiru, acting on intelligence, arrested the suspects – three of whom are ex-convicts of capital offenses such as robbery with violence and murder – on Monday.

Detectives believe the gang is well organized complete with a specialized mechanic who vandalizes a vehicle within minutes as well as a customer relations expert who lures unsuspecting taxi drivers to their trap.

A vehicle used by the gang, assorted keys, screw drivers, sacks for carrying vandalized motor vehicle parts, a mobile phone as well as original identity cards belonging to victims of crime that are used to register sim cards for luring cab drivers were recovered during the arrest.

The five were arraigned in a Ruiru court on Tuesday where they were detained for ten more days to allow detectives complete investigations.

— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) February 17, 2021

— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) February 17, 2021

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Kiambu County DCI taxi operators gang

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