Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a violent robbery incident involving a woman in Kayole, Nairobi.
The suspects, Michael Otieno, aged 28 years, and Festus Owiti, 30, were arrested on Thursday evening by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after the woman was violently robbed of her mobile phone and other valuables in the city.
DCI said one of the suspects operates a mobile phone repair shop in Obama estate where over 50 mobile phones suspected to be stolen property were recovered.
The suspects are currently being held at Kayole Police station pending arraignment in court to answer robbery with violence charges.
“The two Michael Otieno, 28, and Festus Owiti, 30, were arrested last evening by detectives based at DCI Kayole, following a robbery with violence incident where a woman lost her mobile phone and other valuables,” DCI said in a statement on Friday.
TWO ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE SUSPECTS BEHIND BARS
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) December 9, 2022
Two suspects are currently in custody at Kayole police station on robbery with violence charges.
The two Michael Otieno, 28, and Festus Owiti, 30, were arrested last evening by detectives based at DCI Kayole, following a robbery pic.twitter.com/yHZT35IoKr
Spike in robbery cases
Over the last few weeks, police have intensified operations in the city following concerns over rising cases of muggings.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome last month called on police officers to restore order in the city.
Koome, who spoke after meeting with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on November 14, stated that the stability of the nation should not be put in line.
“We cannot compromise on the stability of Kenya. It is a beautiful country. Our officers must be patriotic, we have a duty and job to do,” he stated.
At the same time, the new police boss warned that his officers would use any means possible to curb the rising cases of robbery with violence.
“There’s no offence in law called mugging, it is robbery with violence and that is a capital offence. We are going to use all means at our disposal to ensure these young people acting out of peer pressure are dealt with properly,” he noted.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki also directed the police to deal decisively with the criminal gangs.
He said the government was determined to restore public safety in the streets of Nairobi and vowed to take the fight to the criminals.
“Those boys who have dared the government and want to tell us that they can take over the city and make it a center of crime, we’ve heard also heard you and therefore we are coming effective immediately,” he said.
To ensure police officers are adequately incentivized for their difficult and often risky assignments, the CS promised that a comprehensive review of the salaries and the terms and conditions of all security officers would be undertaken.
“Shortly the government will initiate a process of engagement with a view to relooking at the terms and conditions that our officers serve under while taking into cognizance that for a very long term now, the terms and conditions of our officers serve have not been reviewed with a view to adjusting them to the cost of living,” Kindiki said.
