By Dorothy Musyoka
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has made significant strides in tackling the alarming surge in motor vehicle theft across Kenya, a crime wave that has spiked since the beginning of 2024.
According to the reports, trend has inflicted major financial losses on vehicle owners and financial institutions alike, with ripple effects being felt in the insurance and credit sectors due to increased claims and defaulted car loans.
Motor vehicle theft has manifested in multiple forms from brazen carjacking and violent robberies to sophisticated car hire scams and thefts from public parking spaces.
In response to this growing threat, the DCI’s elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), in collaboration with the DCI Headquarters’ Operation Action Team (OAT), launched a multi-county crackdown aimed at disrupting criminal networks behind the syndicates.
The intelligence-led operation focused on high-risk regions including Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Embu, Machakos, Kajiado, Nairobi, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia and Bungoma.
As a result, 28 suspects were apprehended and 22 stolen vehicles recovered many of which had already been resold to unsuspecting buyers locally or smuggled into Uganda and Tanzania.
All suspects have been charged in various courts across the country with offences ranging from motor vehicle theft to fraud and related crimes.
“Collaborating with the DCI Headquarters’ Operation Action Team (OAT), the team arrested 28 suspects involved in motor vehicle theft syndicates and recovered 22 stolen vehicles, many of which had been sold to unsuspecting buyers within Kenya or smuggled to neighboring countries, primarily Uganda and Tanzania,” explained the detectives.
To further stem the motor vehicle theft, the DCI has urged the public to:
- Install certified anti-theft devices in their vehicles.
- Park in secure locations.
- Verify car hire clients.
- Be vigilant on the roads.
- Verify vehicle documents.
The National Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting vehicle-related crimes. Intelligence-sharing has been intensified, and cross-border collaborations with regional law enforcement agencies are underway to dismantle international smuggling rings dealing in stolen vehicles.
Kenyans are encouraged to take an active role in safeguarding their property by reporting suspicious activity.