Police Arrest Suspected Gang Members Targeting Uber Drivers in Kiambu
Two suspects have been arrested by police in Githunguri, Kiambu County, for allegedly being part of a gang targeting Uber drivers. Arrested during a police patrol, the suspects were found with tools linked to vehicle vandalism and assault. Authorities are investigating to potentially connect them to prior violent attacks against Uber drivers.
Police in Githunguri, Kiambu County have apprehended two suspects believed to be part of a gang targeting Uber drivers. These arrests occurred during a routine patrol around 3 AM along the Githunguri-Kiambu Road. A suspicious Uber vehicle, with a 34-year-old driver Antony Kimemia Wanyeki, was intercepted at Gathanji shopping center when he picked up the suspects from Kiambu Posta to Jamaica area in Githunguri.
Upon inspection, police discovered various tools linked to vandalism and potential assault inside the vehicle. Items included an improvised wire attached to wood for strangling, a sisal rope, pliers, screwdrivers, several spanners, a navy blue knit cap possibly for disguise, and two manila sacks presumably for transporting stolen car parts. The second suspect possessed two national ID cards and a Tecno Spark 8 smartphone used to book the Uber ride, alongside a spanner.
Authorities believe these individuals have misrepresented themselves as valid Uber customers before launching violent attacks and vandalizing cars on isolated roads in Kiambu County. Police noted, “The suspects are part of a gang that has been luring unsuspecting Uber drivers before launching attacks and damaging their vehicles.”
Investigations are ongoing, and both suspects are being held in custody. Police plan to facilitate identification procedures involving other Uber drivers who have experienced similar attacks, linking these suspects to prior incidents.
The arrests of two suspects in Kiambu County highlight the growing threat of gangs targeting Uber drivers in Kenya. With tools found in their possession indicating premeditated violence, police are investigating further to connect these individuals to other cases of driver assaults. Investigation outcomes may serve to enhance safety protocols for ride-sharing services in the area.
Original Source: ntvkenya.co.ke
