Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Makindu have arrested two persons of interest believed to be part of a motor vehicle theft racket along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

According to a post on X by the DCI on Saturday, September 27, 2025, the two were taken into custody after detectives trailed them in connection with a series of robberies targeting motorists. The agency said the racket mainly focused on vehicles headed towards Uganda and unregistered cars bearing Kenya Dealers (KD) plates.

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“Detectives in Makindu have arrested two men suspected of being behind a string of highway motor vehicle thefts,” the X post read.

“The …..are accused of orchestrating robberies targeting vehicles headed to Uganda as well as unregistered cars bearing Kenya Dealers (KD) plates.”

In one case on August 28, 2025, a black Toyota Harrier with KD plates was reportedly stolen from a motorist in the Makindu area. The incident raised concern about a growing pattern of similar thefts along the highway, which serves as a key transport corridor linking Mombasa port to Nairobi and neighbouring countries.

Following the arrests, detectives recovered a range of items believed to be linked to the operation. Among them were registration plates (KDR 885Z), three identification cards belonging to different individuals, five mobile phones, a wheel spanner, and other assorted materials. The duo is currently undergoing processing and is expected to be arraigned in court.

Wider trend

This latest arrest forms part of a larger crackdown by the DCI on organised car theft rings across the country. In April 2025, detectives in Nairobi arrested four people linked to a syndicate that targeted vehicles in the capital and its outskirts.

During that operation, officers outlined how each member of the group played a specific role. One individual was reported to specialise in tampering with chassis numbers to disguise stolen vehicles before resale. The DCI also noted that such syndicates often erase or alter vehicle identification details to frustrate recovery efforts.

All four individuals from the Nairobi case were processed and remain in custody as the investigations continue.

Recoveries in Mombasa

Earlier in March 2025, detectives in Kisauni, Mombasa County, recovered a stolen Toyota Axio traced back to Buruburu in Nairobi. Two people were arrested in the operation, and investigators discovered that the car had already been fitted with a different number plate. Its tracking device had been removed and dumped nearby, suggesting attempts to prepare the vehicle for resale or dismantling for parts.

At the scene, officers also found dismantled trackers, assorted car keys, a key programming machine, and multiple number plates. The DCI linked these recoveries to other reported theft cases under active investigation.