Police officers in Ruiru, Kiambu County have launched a manhunt for three suspected armed robbers who are reported to have caused a car accident in Juja with a stolen car after kidnapping a car dealer and a broker and then fled with a motorcycle.
A police report narrating the convoluted ordeal reveals that on December 1, 2023, a car dealer identified as Kennedy Kimuhu Gitau received a call from a car broker one Brian Karanja informing him that there was a potential buyer based in Juja looking for a vehicle make Prado.
The duo then drove from a showroom along Kiambu road and headed to Juja to meet with the interested buyer identified as Robert Sifuna Wekesa.
Upon being acquainted, the three went for a drive test towards Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and then stopped in front of a gated house in Juja where they all alighted from the car.
In an abrupt turn of events, three men on a motorcycle are said to have appeared and ordered Gitau and Karanja into the house as the client Wekesa drove the car into the compound.
Police say that while being held hostage inside the house, Gitau and Karanja were ordered to pay Ksh.2.5 million each and even call their loved ones to help raise the money.
Three days later, on December 4, two men and a woman tied up the kidnapped duo, bundled them into the Prado and headed to an unidentified destination.
It was until the vehicle reached Juja Equity Bank where hit another motor vehicle and sped off.
The driver of the accosted vehicle is said to have chased the Prado when one suspect fired two rounds in the air at Kimbo.
“He followed them to Kahawa Wendani Magunas supermarket along the service lane where the stolen vehicle lost control and hit the road steel guards and stopped,” read the police report in part.
After the vehicle stalled due to the impact the three armed robbers alighted while pretending to take one of them to the hospital.
They then boarded one motorcycle, leaving their hostages tied in the Prado, fired another two rounds of ammunition in the air and ordered the rider to take them to Juja.
“He took them to Kahawa Sukari roundabout and abandoned the motorcycle there. The robbers took the said motorcycle and rode towards Ruiru direction,” said the police.
The scene was visited by officers from Kahawa Wendani police post and Ruiru DCI officers who recovered two spent cartridges of ammunition outside Magunas supermarket.
Meanwhile, the Prado has been towed to Ruiru Police Station for further police action.
