3 suspects arrested in connection with pastor’s kidnapping, robbery

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction and robbery of a pastor near Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday night.

In a statement on Saturday, February 24, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspects, identified as Bernard Mbunga Mbusu, Alphonce Munyau, and Samuel Musembi Kamito, were apprehended at their respective residences in Syokimau, Kitengela, and Kamito.

“Bernard Mbunga Mbusu, Alphonce Munyau and Samuel Musembi Kamito were arrested at their respective residents in Syokimau, Kitengela and Kamito in an operation led by the DCI Nairobi Area Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau detectives backed up by their Lang’ata counterparts,” part of the statement said.

According to DCI, the victim, a pastor at Christ Church, recounted the harrowing experience of being accosted by three men as he made his way to a restaurant after a busy day preparing for the forthcoming Benny Hinn crusade at Nyayo National Stadium.

He was forcibly taken into a waiting car, stripped naked, and coerced into revealing his Mpesa pin under threat of having compromising photos uploaded to his social media accounts.

Following his compliance, an amount totalling Ksh55,000 was transferred to one of the suspect’s phones before he was released.

“According to the victim who’s a pastor at the Christ Church, he was heading for dinner after a beehive of activities planning for the forthcoming Benny Hinn crusade set to be held at the Nyayo National Stadium, when three men accosted him and bundled him in a waiting saloon car. Once in the car, the man of the cloth reported to have been stripped naked and photos of him taken before he was forced to reveal his Mpesa pin lest the photos be uploaded on his social media platforms. Complying under duress, Sh55,000 was transferred to one of the suspect’s phone and thereafter he was released,” DCI stated.

Upon receiving the report at Nyayo Police Post, the DCI analyzed forensic evidence, leading them to Village Apartment House No F2 in Syokimau, where the first suspect, Bernard Mbunga Mbusu, was apprehended.

A search of his residence yielded three handsets, including an iPhone 13 containing the SIM card used in the fraudulent transaction, as well as a PDQ bank card swapping machine.

Following interrogation, Bernard guided the authorities to Kitengela, where his accomplice Alphonce Munyau was found at Stengo 1 Apartment House No. E4, in possession of the victim’s phone.

Munyau was also subjected to questioning, which led the team to Katani area of Athi River, where the final suspect, Samuel Musembi Kamito, was arrested.

The three suspects were subsequently taken into custody at Langata Police Station, pending their arraignment on Monday.

DETECTIVES ROUND UP SUSPECTS BEHIND PASTOR’S ABDUCTION, ROBBERY

Three robbery suspects reported to have abducted and robbed a pastor of his phone and cash Thursday night as he walked to a restaurant near the Nyayo National Stadium have been arrested.

Bernard Mbunga Mbusu,… pic.twitter.com/TGZPJmES74

— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) February 24, 2024