Police have arrested six people in Vipingo, Kilifi County, in connection with a robbery and burglary incident reported in Mtwapa on January 28, 2026.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation by detectives from Kilifi South Sub-County, according to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The DCI said officers tracked the suspects to a residence in Vipingo, where they believed some of them had sought refuge after the incident.
“Acting on intelligence, the officers moved to a hideout in Vipingo where the suspects were believed to be staying,” the DCI said in a statement.
Three suspects were arrested during the first operation. A search of the house led to the recovery of items police said are under investigation to establish whether they were used in criminal activities or obtained unlawfully.
The items recovered included six mobile phones, eight national identity cards bearing different names, and crude weapons, among them Somali swords and pangas.
Police also said they recovered a cash bail receipt linked to a separate attempted robbery with violence case, in which one of the suspects is alleged to have an active warrant of arrest.
Following interrogations, investigators said information obtained led them to another residence in the same area, where three additional suspects were arrested.
During a search at the second location, officers recovered 18 large rolls of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, a weighing scale, and Sh7,000 in cash. Police said the items will be subjected to further analysis as investigations continue.
All six suspects were taken to Mtwapa Police Station, where they were booked. They were later presented before a court, which granted detectives 14 days of custodial orders to allow further investigations.
According to police, the investigations relate to the reported robbery with violence, burglary, and the recovery of suspected weapons and narcotics.
The arrests come amid heightened public concern over incidents of violent crime in different parts of the country, some of which have been highlighted through videos circulating on social media.
Police have reiterated their commitment to maintaining security and have urged members of the public to share information that may assist in preventing crime and supporting investigations.
by JAMES GICHIGI
