A man believed to be behind a series of robbery with violence incidents within Nairobi and Kiambu counties is expected to appear before a Nairobi Court today.

This is after the prosecution sought more time to continue detaining the suspect, Isaac Wonder Daraja Motochi to conclude investigations.

When the matter came before court last week, Police Constable Peter Mwangi who is attached to the DCI Operations Support Unit pleaded with Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi to have Motochi detained for seven days to enable him to conclude investigations and prefer charges against the accused.

Motochi is suspected to be part of the syndicate involved in a series of robbery with violence crimes within Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

The officer narrated before the court that on December 1, 2023, Kennedy Kimuhu Gitau, a car dealer along Kiambu Road received a call from a car broker Brian Karanja Mbui informing him that there was a client interested in buying a motor vehicle which was posted online.

The prospective customer introduced himself as Robert and said that he was interested in buying a Toyota Prado registration number KBS 775G, which was posted online for sale.

The owner of the vehicle, Gitau was ready to sell it to anyone willing to offer Sh2,000,000.

After negotiations, Gitau was directed to deliver the vehicle to Juja for inspection and a road test drive. The owner, accompanied by the broker delivered the vehicle as agreed.

Upon inspection and road test drive, the buyer requested Gitau and the broker to pass by his residence before they proceeded to a restaurant for other transactions.

Upon arrival at the buyer’s residence, Gitau and the broker were ushered into the sitting room whereupon three armed men arrived on a motorcycle and held them hostage, ordering them to make calls to their relatives requesting ransom.

“This happened for three days and on December 4, 2023, the duo were bundled in the said Prado and driven off towards Nairobi city direction,” Mwangi told the magistrate.

Upon reaching Kahawa Wendani, the vehicle was involved in a stage-managed accident during which the gangsters fled leaving Gitau and the broker behind.

They were rescued by members of the public who directed them to report the matter at Ruiru police station.

In the process of investigation at the scene of the accident, police recovered a used cartridge which was fired from a Cesca pistol serial number A700990.

“The said pistol was a civilian firearm licensed to Isaac Wonder Daraja Motochi,” the officer said.

Investigations revealed that the same pistol was also involved in other incidents reported at Kilimani and Ruai police stations.

Mwangi sought to hold the suspect for seven days to investigate and try to recover the pistol.

He also said that they want to subject the mobile phones to cyber forensic examination and acquire the geolocation of the suspects and the victims.

“We want to record statements from various witnesses where many robbery with violence incidences have occurred within Kilimani, Ruai, Juja and Ruiru areas,” Mwangi pleaded.

The defence lawyer however urged the court to dismiss the application saying the matter was first reported at Juja police station in December last year and the suspect was charged in court and fined.

“The respondent before this court was arraigned in Thika law courts on December 23, 2023, and charged with failing to secure a firearm. He was fined Sh15,000 which he paid,” said the defence lawyer.

The lawyer further told the court that the same matter was taken to another police station to harass his client.

State prosecutor Virginia Kariuki denied the claim by the defense stating that the matter currently before the court was different as it involved different complainants but the same firearm.

In his brief ruling, the magistrate said the matter involves an offence of robbery with violence which is a very serious one and needs to be investigated thoroughly.

“The offence is very serious and it needs thorough investigations,” the magistrate said and ordered Motochi to be detained at Capitol Hill police station until today when the matter will be mentioned for directions.