Westlands restaurant robbery: Police spokesperson says no arrest has been made
By Paulette Mboga, July 6, 2026National Police Service spokesperson Michael Muchiri has said no arrests have been made following the recent robbery at a hotel in Westlands.
However, he said investigators have made progress and assured Kenyans that the police are actively handling the case.
Muchiri dismissed claims on Monday, July 6, 2026, during a TV interview that the incident shows the police are overwhelmed. He explained that the robbery should not be taken as a sign that law enforcement is unable to deal with crime.
“The recent incident we have seen at Westlands does not in any way mean that the police are overwhelmed. Police are up to it, and moving forward, I am very certain that Kenyans will start realising that police are not overwhelmed at all. No one has been arrested, but there is progress on the Westlands incident,” Michael Muchiri said.
He explained that police officers continue to carry out patrols across the country as part of their efforts to improve security. He also said there is a common belief that officers are present everywhere, but that is not possible.
Police explain response
“We have regular patrols all over the country. There is always an assumption that police are everywhere; that is precisely not the case. It is not possible to have a police officer at every place,” Michael Muchiri said.
Muchiri said the Westlands robbery happened very quickly and appeared to have been carefully planned. He explained that this made it difficult for officers to stop the crime while it was taking place.
“The speed at which the Westlands incident took place was well planned. It will not be possible to give the exact details of what the police are doing about this,” Michael Muchiri said.
He said the police cannot reveal everything about the ongoing investigation because of the nature of the case. Muchiri maintained that officers are working on the matter even though no suspects have been arrested so far.
The police spokesperson said the National Police Service remains committed to protecting the public through regular patrols and investigations. He insisted that the recent robbery should not be seen as proof that the police are unable to respond to criminal incidents.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:35 p.m. (22:35 hours) on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at a time when the restaurant was bustling with customers enjoying their meals and conversations.
The surveillance footage begins by showing what appears to be a normal Saturday night at the establishment. Nearly every table in the dining area is occupied, waiters can be seen moving between customers serving food and drinks, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Within moments, the calm is shattered as three armed men walk into the restaurant through the main entrance.