KENYA: 300 Suspects Arrested In Nairobi Mugging Crackdown

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Police in Nairobi have arrested 300 people in an ongoing security operation targeting violent robberies and street muggings that have unsettled residents in the city’s Central Business District (CBD).

The crackdown follows weeks of public outcry, with Nairobians taking to social media to share accounts of broad-daylight attacks.

The uproar pushed the police, working alongside the Nairobi County Government, to launch joint operations across the capital.

Nairobi Central Police Commander Philemon Nyakombo confirmed the arrests, saying that while some online reports had been exaggerated, others reflected genuine cases.

He noted that dangerous weapons and stolen property were recovered during the sweep.

“We have arrested close to 300 suspects. Some were armed with knives and other hidden weapons capable of causing serious harm. We also recovered mobile phones and other valuables stolen from members of the public,” Nyakombo said.

Police have urged victims of such attacks to record formal statements to support court cases against the suspects.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also addressed the situation, urging residents to report crimes through the toll-free number 988.

He further revealed that investigations were underway into individuals suspected of tampering with electricity infrastructure in the CBD to facilitate criminal activity.

“At Moi Avenue, we discovered an illegal control box used to supply electricity for payment. These unlawful connections, which we thought were limited to informal settlements, are now happening right in the city center,” Sakaja said.

While security agencies say the arrests represent progress, many Nairobi residents remain cautious, waiting to see if the intensified operations will restore safety and order in Kenya’s capital.