Three suspects arrested in connection to abductions in Murang'a

Police officers displaying items recovered from a saloon car that three suspects were using to abduct victims, May 10, 2025. /ALICE WAITHERA

Police in Murang'a have arrested three people suspected of being behind a spate of abductions and robbery with violence incidents in the county.

The suspects, two women and a man, were apprehended on Friday afternoon after police officers intercepted a saloon car in which they were travelling in Kangema.

They are suspected to have abducted two women in separate incidents and demanding ransom from their families.

Murang'a County Police Commander Benjamin Kimwele said the arrest followed an incident in a which a young woman was abducted while waiting to board a matatu at Kabuta area near Murang’a town.

The suspects then drove off with the victim towards Kangema town but were intercepted by police officers before they could receive any money from the victim’s family.

Kimwele said evidence recovered from the scene included a mobile phone used to contact the victim’s family and money believed to have been extorted from another victim.

Irene Muthoni, the victim, said the suspects approached her while riding in a black saloon car and offered to drop her off at Murang’a town.

“When I got into the car, they told me they were criminals and asked me to get them Sh50, 000, failing which they would kill me and dump my body in a dam," the victim narrated.

The suspects, she said, took her phone and started making calls to her relatives demanding for the money.

But Muthoni's parents kept saying they were heading to an M-pesa shop but when they delayed to remit the money, the abductors became apprehensive that the parents were liaising with the police, and dropped her off at Kanorero area in Kangema.

Police officers who were tracking Muthoni's phone number picked her up and continued tracking the suspects who were found buying groceries in Kangema town.

Murang'a County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha addressing journalists at Murang'a police station, May 10, 2025. /ALICE WAITHERA

The second victim, Hellen Nyambura Ndungu, said she was abducted on Thursday around 5pm at Kiangage market as she was heading for a church meeting.

She said a man came out of a vehicle holding something that looked like a gun and forced her into the car.

"They asked me to ask my husband to send me money and when I told them he was a casual labourer, they insulted me and asked why I married a useless man."

They then took her phone and emptied some money from her M-pesa account before travelling to Kenol town in Maragua where they forced her to withdraw Sh20,000 from an ATM.

"They also called my father, mother and my husband threatening to kill me if they did not send ransom.My father sent Sh40,000. When they realised the police were tracing them, they dumped me at Kambiti area," Nyambura said.

Murang'a County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha noted that they had been trailing the vehicle for several days before the suspects were arrested.

“Our security team has been working diligently to track down these criminals. Their arrest is a major breakthrough in our ongoing crackdown of crime in the county,” Nkanatha said.

He pointed out that Mulika Uhalifu platform that allows members of the public to send in alerts on crime has been helpful in combating criminal activities in the county.

Nhanatha assured residents that the security committee is working hard to ensure they are able to continue with their daily activities without disruptions.

Kimwele said since last week, six suspects have been arrested in connection to car break ins and scams.

" My appeal to locals is to make reports and help security apparatus with information which will help apprehend the suspects".