NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan law enforcement has dismantled a sophisticated robbery syndicate accused of terrorising wines and spirits traders across Kajiado, Kiambu and Nairobi counties, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says.
Authorities allege the gang conducted coordinated surveillance of alcohol outlets, targeting businesses for cash and stock before distributing the stolen goods through an organised network.
After weeks of forensic tracking and intelligence work, the group’s alleged mastermind, Peter Muhia Njenga, was arrested in Nakuru County.
Two suspected accomplices were also apprehended: John Mugo Nderito, believed to be a key distributor of stolen consignments, and Elisha Njeri Katito, who is alleged to have been linked to the vehicles used in the operations.
Nderito was arrested in Ruiru and Katito in Juja, police said.
Officers recovered assorted alcoholic products marked with unique identifiers belonging to traders who reported losses.
Victims from Ongata Rongai and Karen have since identified some of the recovered items at Kikuyu Police Station.
Forensic experts are analysing CCTV footage and other digital evidence to strengthen the prosecution’s case, police added.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue ahead of their expected arraignment in court.
Organised retail crime targeting small and medium‑sized enterprises has been a growing concern in Kenya.
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According to recent National Police Service data released in late 2025, business theft reports in urban peripheries, particularly involving liquor outlets, pharmacies and tech shops, rose by nearly 15% compared to the previous year.
Economists say that, apart from immediate financial losses for business owners, such crime can erode investor confidence in local retail sectors and increase the cost of insurance premiums for traders.
Civil society groups such as the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) have urged the government to invest more in community policing and real‑time surveillance technology.
The DCI’s latest operation is part of a broader crackdown on organised syndicates, following similar arrests earlier this year in Mombasa and Kisumu counties relating to cross‑county banditry and cargo theft.
