The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a stark warning to taxi operators, cautioning them about the alarming rise of criminal syndicates targeting drivers for robbery and violence.
According to the DCI, these syndicates employ a cunning technique, wherein they pose as cash-rich customers seeking taxi services for long-distance trips or journeys with multiple pickup points.
Once the unsuspecting driver is lured in by the promise of lucrative fares, the situation takes a sinister turn as the criminals disguised as passengers, in collaboration with accomplices along the route, turn violent and rob the driver of their vehicle and belongings.
“Usually, the route or destinations picked will have secluded areas, where the gangs turn against the drivers, rob them of their vehicles and at times murder them in cold blood,” said the DCI.
In a statement issued on Friday, the DCI highlighted a recent incident reported at Kikopey Police Post within Gilgil, Nakuru County on January 14, 2024, where a 42-year-old male taxi operator from Nairobi CBD was hired by a customer to drive to Nakuru.
However, the trip took a terrifying turn when, upon reaching Naivasha, the customer requested to pick up two friends in the Karagita area.
“A short moment into the final stretch of the journey, the passengers turned against the male driver before robbing him of his vehicle and dumped him at Diatomite area in Gilgil,” revealed the DCI.
Following the report of the incident, a team of detectives from DCI Headquarters was swiftly deployed to launch a manhunt for the suspects. Two individuals, identified as Francis Ojerepata Omoindi, 39, and Jack Odhiambo Otieno, 38, were apprehended in Bungoma County in connection with the crime.
The stolen vehicle was recovered, and the suspects were subsequently handed over to DCI Gilgil for further investigation and police action.
In a troubling twist, the suspects were found in possession of seven sim cards, five national ID cards, and two driving licenses, suggesting potential involvement in a broader criminal network.
The case is ongoing at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Naivasha as pursuit for other accomplices continue.
The DCI has urged taxi operators to remain vigilant and report any suspicions of danger to the police through various hotlines.
