Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a 38-year-old man believed to be the mastermind behind a violent highway ambush that left a motorist injured and his vehicle stolen along the Mombasa-Malaba route.
According to a statement released by the DCI, the victim was attacked after offering a ride to two hitchhikers at Mariakani.
The driver, who was en route to Malaba, was ambushed at Kiunduani Market in Makueni County when one of the passengers requested to alight.
As the motorist slowed down, two assailants emerged from a nearby thicket and struck him with a blunt object, severely injuring him before escaping with his car and personal belongings.
The injured driver was rushed to Makindu Sub-County Hospital, where he received treatment and was later discharged in stable condition.
Following the incident, DCI officers launched a forensic-led investigation which tracked the stolen vehicle to Ukia, Makueni Sub-County.
The main suspect was apprehended during the operation, while his accomplices managed to flee the scene but left behind valuable evidence.
“Forensic leads and tactical pursuit led our officers to Ukia, where the suspect was arrested,” the DCI stated.
During the arrest, detectives recovered a getaway motorcycle, two sets of number plates (including one reported stolen), a pair of screwdrivers, and other items believed to have been used in the crime.
The suspect is currently in police custody awaiting arraignment, as detectives intensify efforts to locate and arrest the remaining members of the gang.
The DCI also linked this case to a broader pattern of highway robberies that have plagued the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, where motorists have increasingly become targets of violent attacks.
In April, police arrested three suspects two men aged 36 and 40, and a 32-year-old woman who had been evading capture after allegedly terrorizing drivers along the same corridor.
Authorities are now urging motorists to exercise caution when offering lifts to strangers and to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
The DCI confirmed that investigations are ongoing and more arrests are expected.
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