A suspected kidnapper is set to appear in court on Wednesday following his arrest in Mirema, located in Kasarani, Nairobi.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) identified the suspect as 28-year-old Frankline Otieno Odhiambo, who, alongside his accomplices—identified only as Carol and Adan—allegedly orchestrated the abduction.
According to the DCI, the group targeted an Indian-Kenyan victim in what they described as a new extortion scheme that has led many victims to part with significant sums of money in exchange for their freedom.
The victim was reportedly lured to a house under the pretense of a business meeting with Carol. Once inside, Otieno and Adan allegedly stormed in, accusing the victim of fabricated offenses.
“Carol signaled Otieno and his associate, who entered the room and falsely accused the fear-stricken visitor of drawing from Otieno’s pot without permission,” the DCI statement revealed.
The suspects then coerced the victim into providing his family’s contact information and demanded ransom for his release.
Family members managed to raise Ksh. 310,000 as an advance payment before reporting the incident to police at the Parklands and Kabati stations.
Otieno was later arrested, with police recovering the mobile phone used to contact the victim’s family. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects, Carol and Adan.