Kisumu: Police recover 24 stolen phones, laptops in Kolenyo raid
By Nancy Marende, August 6, 2025Police officers in Kisumu County have arrested one person of interest in possession of 24 mobile phones in Kolenyo Village, Seme Sub-County.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, the National Police Service (NPS) stated that two laptops and a power bank were also recovered upon a search conducted at the person’s residence.
“Earlier today, 6 August 2025, officers from Kombewa Police Station, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a male suspect in Kolenyo Village, Seme Sub-County, Kisumu County,” read the statement in part.
“A search conducted at the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of 24 assorted mobile phones, two laptops, a black Lenovo and a grey HP, and an Orimo power bank, all suspected to have been stolen,” the statement added.
Further, the Service revealed that the person of interest is currently in police custody and will be arraigned in court on 7 August 2025.
Phone theft network
His arrest comes a few hours after police officers from Central Police Station arrested another three persons of interest connected to a phone theft network operating within Nairobi’s Central Business District.
The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation, during which the person of interest was found tampering with the IMEI numbers of mobile phones suspected to be stolen.
During initial questioning, the person of interest reportedly led detectives to another building, where two other individuals were also arrested.
A subsequent search of the premises yielded a collection of electronic devices, including 36 Samsung phones, 23 Vivo phones, two Nokia phones, one LG phone, one HMD phone, one Tecno phone, one Motorola phone, six M-Kopa Samsung phones, two M-Kopa Nokia phones, and two Vivo motherboards, many without back covers.
Police also recovered two Dell CPUs, two HP Elite CPUs, and one desktop computer, among other items.
Additionally, the National Police Service revealed that the three individuals are currently in custody as investigations continue ahead of their arraignment in court.
The operation highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement officers to curb mobile phone theft in the county.