Kibwezi, Makueni County – A joint operation by detectives in Kibwezi has led to the recovery of 500 bags of rice that were stolen by highway robbers in a daring heist along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi highway. The incident, which occurred on December 21 in the Machinery area of Kambu, saw a truck transporting the rice ambushed by a gang riding motorcycles.
The driver of the truck, who was en route from Mombasa, reported that he was overpowered by the four-strong gang, who assaulted him and forced him out of the vehicle. After dumping the driver near Makindu, the robbers took control of the truck, unloading all 500 bags of rice, each weighing 25kg, before abandoning the empty vehicle.
According to police reports, the suspects then shared the stolen goods amongst themselves and fled the scene. Acting swiftly on the information, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Makindu launched a raid on the homestead of one of the suspects, identified as Alex Mweti Kasina, 42, in a neighboring village.
However, Kasina and his wife managed to flee upon learning of the impending police operation. Despite their escape, authorities were able to recover 129 of the stolen rice bags outside the suspect’s house. The remaining bags are believed to be in the possession of other members of the gang.
“We are intensifying efforts to track down the suspects and recover the rest of the stolen goods. We urge anyone with information about their whereabouts to come forward,” said DCI Makindu officer in charge.
The police have since launched a manhunt for Kasina and his associates, as investigations continue into the highway robbery that has raised concerns about the rise in such incidents along major transport routes in the region.
This successful recovery comes as part of ongoing efforts to address highway crime in the area, with authorities promising more operations in response to the increasing rate of robberies targeting truckers.
