Undercover detectives on Monday, May 22, 2023, arrested two robbery suspects believed to be behind recent armed attacks on civilians in Kakamega, Vihiga and Uasin-Gishu counties.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the sleuths disguised as Jua Kali artisans arrested the suspects in Kakamega, following a chase that culminated at river Lwatingu where the main suspect was arrested.
"Posing as jua kali traders, the sleuths had been in the streets and as many drinking joints found in Kakamega in search of the suspect, before making their final move that also led to the recovery of a firearm," DCI said.
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According to the DCI, the bloodthirsty suspects Patrick Mangale, 30 and Denis Indeche, 24, who masterminded several armed robberies in Kakamega had on April 9, attacked a senior DCI officer and hacked his head several times leaving him unconscious in a pool of blood. They also stole the officer's gun which they used to terrorise locals.
The officer based at DCI Kakamega North is said to have just arrived at his residence at around 3:00 am from an assignment in Nairobi when the thugs who were on a motorbike accosted him at his gate.
"They descended on him with a machete inflicting several deep cuts on his head before fleeing into the darkness with his Jericho pistol, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition," DCI added.
The thugs are also linked to a series of robberies targeting M-Pesa shops and other business establishments in the region.
"Armed with the stolen firearm, the thugs abandoned the machete as their preferred weapon and went on a robbery spree, targeting M-Pesa shops and pump stations," DCI said.
On April 11, at around 9:30 pm, the duo is said to have staged an attack at Aziz petrol station in Shibuli shopping centre and left with an unknown amount of money.
"Two days later, the suspects attacked a gold dealer in Lwanugu village and took off with Sh55,000, 8 grams of gold, mobile phones and other valuables. This is after they ordered everyone at the gold mining site to lie down and not raise an alarm. Nobody was injured in the incident," the directorate revealed.
"In yet another incident on April 20, at around 10:00 pm, the gun-toting thugs raided an M-Pesa shop at Mudete market in Maragoli, and took off with an unspecified amount of money and mobile phones."
Robbery suspects flee to Uasin Gishu
After learning that police were hot on their trail, the thugs are said to have fled to neighbouring Uasin Gishu County, where they continued with their activities.
"In one of the attacks, two innocent civilians suffered gunshot injuries on their hands and legs, as the thugs raided a shop at Elgon View estate in Eldoret and made away with cash," DCI said.
The arrest of the main suspect Patrick Mangale led the DCU officers to a toilet at his homestead in Lower Tingu, Mugulu area, where the firearm loaded with two rounds of 9mm calibre was retrieved from a pit latrine.
The detectives also impounded a red motorbike registration number KMGG 124M, which is believed to have been the gang’s getaway means.
The suspects are cooling their heels at Kakamega Police Station as investigations into their operations continue.
