A magistrate court sitting in Kibera has been told that a repainted Toyota Vitz advertised on Facebook Marketplace led detectives to a serving police officer, who has been arraigned over his alleged role in a vehicle theft syndicate operating in Nairobi.

Willis Omondi Onduru was arrested on October 2, 2026, at Maji House after a months-long investigation by DCI Kilimani detectives.

He faces a charge of stealing a motor vehicle contrary to Section 278(A) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.

The case began on August 15, when Phoebe Atieno Otieno parked her light green Toyota Vitz, registration KBL 732Q, outside the RFUEA grounds along Ngong Road while attending a rugby match.

The car, valued at about Ksh.655,000, was gone when she returned that evening.

She reported the theft at Jamhuri Police Station and shared details of the missing car on social media.

Tracking the car

Members of the public later spotted the vehicle in Utawala, and Otieno’s brother and friends tracked it to Malaa Shopping Centre along Kangundo Road.

An unidentified person reportedly drove it away before police could secure it.

The breakthrough came in September, when Otieno saw the car advertised on Facebook Marketplace.

It had been repainted white and fitted with registration KBA 625M, but she recognised it by its customised headlights and other distinctive features.

Detectives set up a sting.

An accomplice, Edward Karanja Ngugi, posed as a buyer and arranged to meet the seller at Pangani Shopping Centre on September 17.

The seller was arrested during a staged road test and the vehicle was recovered.

According to court documents, the suspect was found with allegedly forged documents, including a Motor Vehicle Sale Agreement dated September 3, 2026, and a doctored logbook.

Investigators say they traced the documentation and electronic trail to Onduru.

Sergeant David Kung’u, the investigating officer, presented a supporting affidavit to the court, which led to Onduru’s arrest.

The prosecution is seeking custodial orders.

It argues that Onduru’s position as a serving officer gives him knowledge of police procedures and investigative structures that could enable him to interfere with witnesses.

It also told the court that several people linked to the alleged fraudulent transaction remain at large, and that his place of residence has not been satisfactorily verified, raising fears that he could abscond.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has asked for at least five days to complete its investigations and decide whether to bring additional or more serious charges.

The DCI says it is continuing to investigate the alleged syndicate, including tracing the electronic and documentary trail linked to the car’s theft and attempted sale.