MAKUENI – A well-coordinated operation by the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and the DCI Headquarters Operations Team has led to the arrest of eight suspects believed to be part of a notorious violent robbery syndicate.

The arrests, made in Mtito Andei, Makueni County, mark a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime.

For months, the gang had been on detectives’ radar, linked to a string of brutal attacks and burglaries across the country, including in Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa.

Their operations, which reportedly have roots in Nairobi’s Dandora, Kenol, and Kariobangi estates, have left a trail of fear and significant financial loss for businesses.

The group’s most audacious crime occurred on the night of August 22, 2025, when a gang of 25 to 30 armed individuals stormed Century Mabati Ltd in Nakuru County.

Wielding crude weapons, they made away with steel coils, machinery, and even a tuk-tuk before vanishing.

The major breakthrough in the case came when detectives intercepted a lorry, registration number KBK 616W/ZC 4758, loaded with goods stolen from a major heist in Nyali, Mombasa.

The seizure provided vital evidence and disrupted the gang’s supply chain.

During the same operation, police also recovered a Toyota Porte, registration KDP 805X, which is suspected to have served as a getaway vehicle.

Crude weapons and an apron branded with the Century Mabati logo were also seized as exhibits.

The eight suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.