•As the pastor walked to a restaurant near the Nyayo National Stadium, three men accosted him and bundled him in a waiting saloon car
•Once in the car, the man of the cloth reported to have been stripped naked and photos of him taken before he was forced to reveal his M-PESA pin
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has arrested three people suspected of being behind the abduction of a pastor in Nairobi on Thursday.
The three are alleged to have abducted and robbed the pastor of his phone and cash as he walked to a restaurant near the Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday night.
The DCI in a statement on Saturday said the three suspects were arrested at their respective residences in Syokimau, Kitengela and Kamito.
The operation was spearheaded by detectives from the DCI Nairobi Area Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, supported by their counterparts from Lang'ata.
The victim, a pastor affiliated with a city church, reported to the police that he was en route to dinner following a busy session organizing activities for the upcoming Benny Hinn crusade scheduled to take place at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The incident was promptly reported at Nyayo Police Post, leading to an immediate launch of investigations into the matter.
As he walked to a restaurant near the Nyayo National Stadium, three men accosted him and bundled him in a waiting saloon car.
“Once in the car, the man of the cloth reported to have been stripped naked and photos of him taken before he was forced to reveal his M-PESA pin lest the photos be uploaded on his social media platforms,” the DCI said.
“Complying under duress, Sh55,000 was transferred to one of the suspect's phone and thereafter he was released,” the DCI added.
In response to the incident, the DCI team meticulously analyzed the forensic clues at their disposal, ultimately tracing them to a residence in Syokimau.
This led to the apprehension of the first suspect.
A subsequent search of his residence yielded three mobile phones, among them an iPhone 13 hosting the SIM card responsible for receiving the purportedly stolen Sh55,000, along with a PDQ bank card swapping machine.
Following a brief interrogation, the initial suspect cooperated with the investigators, guiding them to Kitengela, where his accomplice was arrested. The second suspect was allegedly found in possession of the victim's phone.
“The second suspect was equally interrogated, leading the team to Katani area of Athi River where the last suspect, was also arrested,” the DCI said in the statement.
The three are being held at Langata Police Station pending their arraignment on Monday.