Person of interest in violent Mombasa robbery nabbed after viral footage
Detectives in Mombasa have arrested a person of interest in a violent robbery incident that was captured on video and later went viral on social media.
In a statement shared on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said officers from the Mombasa DCI Regional Headquarters, working together with DCI Urban detectives and Tononoka Police Station officers, tracked down and arrested the suspect following an intensive manhunt.
You might also like
“A team of officers from Mombasa DCI Regional Headquarters, together with their counterparts from DCI Urban and Tononoka Police Station, have apprehended a notorious robbery with violence person of interest who was captured attacking a watchman in a video that has since gone viral across social media platforms,” the DCI statement reads.
The DCI further disclosed that using forensic leads, detectives traced the person of interest, identified as Salim Keya Ngesa, to a guest house in Bondeni “A,” where he had been hiding and was subsequently arrested.
“Following this, detectives launched an all-out manhunt for the two suspects. Thanks to forensic leads, they trailed down Salim Keya Ngesa to a guest house in Bondeni “A,” where he was hiding, subsequently arresting him,” the DCI statement reads.
Items recovered
During the arrest, officers recovered several items believed to be linked to the crime, including six assorted mobile phones, a blood-stained panga, two knives, and a greyish kanzu matching the clothing seen in the CCTV footage of the incident.
“Upon his arrest, officers recovered a cache of incriminating evidence: six assorted mobile phones, a blood-stained panga, two knives, and a greyish kanzu that matched the attire seen in the CCTV footage of the brutal incident,” the DCI statement reads.
The person of interest is currently in police custody and is undergoing processing ahead of his arraignment in court. Meanwhile, detectives have intensified efforts to track down his accomplice, who remains at large.
The DCI has encouraged members of the public who have credible information to report it anonymously.
“Now behind bars, the person of interest is undergoing processing pending arraignment. Meanwhile, detectives are hot on the heels of his elusive accomplice, who remains on the run,” the DCI statement reads.
” #FichuaKwaDCI. Call 0800 722 203 (Toll-free) or WhatsApp at 0709 570 000 to report anonymously. Usiogope!”
Viral footage
The viral footage showed the person of interest, armed with a panga and accompanied by an accomplice, viciously attacking an unsuspecting night watchman before fleeing with his mobile phone.
“The chilling footage shows the person of interest, armed with a panga, alongside an accomplice, launching a vicious assault on the unsuspecting watchman before making off with his mobile phone,” the DCI statement reads.
