Suspect arrested for placing stone on Southern Bypass, attempting to rob motorists

Police have arrested Martin Otieno, a suspect linked to a string of robberies targeting motorists along Nairobi's Southern Bypass.

The arrest followed intensified patrols by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Lang'ata, Dagoretti, and the Regional Criminal Investigations Office in response to rising security concerns in the area.

Otieno was apprehended after allegedly attempting to rob a family by placing a large stone on the road, forcing their vehicle to stop.

“The suspect's strategy involved positioning a massive stone to obstruct traffic, creating the perfect opportunity to launch his assault. While on patrol, officers were alerted by a loud crash,” the DCI said in a statement.

“Rushing to the scene, they discovered that a Volkswagen, bearing the registration KYW 690, had collided with the stone as it drove toward Ngong Road. A family inside the vehicle recounted the terrifying ordeal: after hitting the stone, the suspect emerged from a nearby thicket, where he immediately confronted them robbing them of their valuables.”

Patrolling officers, alerted by the sound of the collision, quickly responded. After chasing the suspect into a thicket, they managed to apprehend him.

Otieno is currently in police custody and will be arraigned in court on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring safety along the Southern Bypass and urged motorists to remain vigilant.