Detectives in Voi have arrested three suspects believed to be behind a series of highway robberies along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. The trio—David Karanja, Juma Jumamosi, and Josephine Nthamba Mutie—were linked to a daring robbery that occurred on April 9, 2025.
On the day of the robbery, an Isuzu FRR truck with registration number KDC 020G was transporting gypsum from Nairobi to Mombasa. As it neared the Ikanga area in Kitui South , a suspect suddenly ran out of a nearby thicket, pretending to cross the road. The driver swerved sharply to avoid hitting him, causing the truck to veer off the road and the engine to stall.
At that moment, about five attackers emerged from the bushes. One was armed with a pistol. They forced their way into the truck, handcuffed the driver and co-driver, and pushed them behind the seats. One of the robbers took the wheel and drove off towards Mombasa. Roughly 300 meters down the road, the two victims were dumped by the roadside as the gang made away with the truck.
Following the incident, detectives launched an intensive investigation. Through forensic analysis and intelligence gathering, they tracked down Karanja and Jumamosi to a hideout in Taveta, where both were arrested. Jumamosi then led police to his rented house in Bahati, Taveta sub-county. There, officers recovered a number plate labeled KDC 020G, believed to be from the stolen truck, along with a T-shaped screwdriver and two spanners.
The two suspects were taken to the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Voi on May 19, 2025, where detectives were granted a 14-day custodial order to allow more time for investigations.
On June 2, 2025, the third suspect, Nthamba, was arrested in Makindu. She also appeared before the Voi Chief Magistrate’s Court, and detectives were again given 14 more days to hold her as they pursue additional leads and work to recover the missing truck.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting highway crime and protecting road users. These arrests mark a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle criminal networks targeting cargo transport along the busy highway.
