The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has put drivers transporting newly imported vehicles on high alert following a surge in violent highway robberies, cautioning them to stay vigilant as organized criminal gangs step up attacks on major roads.
In an advisory released on Thursday, May 7, the DCI drew particular attention to a violent robbery attempt near Mutomo in Mtito Andei along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, using it as a stark example of the dangers now facing transit vehicle drivers.
“The DCI is urging drivers transporting newly imported transit vehicles to remain vigilant amidst cases of robbery with violence incidents along major highways,” the statement read.
Investigators warn that these criminal gangs have grown increasingly sophisticated in their methods, routinely disguising themselves as vulnerable road users or staging fake emergencies to trick drivers into pulling over at isolated spots along major highways.
The DCI is asking transit vehicle drivers not to attempt to intervene on their own but to report any suspicious activity or individuals to the police immediately. Authorities also advise drivers to keep their doors locked at all times, maintain controlled stops, and stay sharply alert from the moment they set off to their final destination.
The DCI pointed to a chilling incident from May 6 to illustrate just how calculated these attacks have become. A driver transporting a Subaru Impreza from Mombasa to Kampala drove straight into a carefully laid trap when suspects traveling on a motorcycle staged a fake emergency on the roadside. To sell the ruse, one of the pillion passengers pretended to be disabled and in urgent need of help. The moment the driver stopped to assist, the gang abandoned the act and moved in to hijack the vehicle, brandishing a firearm and physically attacking the driver.
The confrontation did not go as the attackers planned. During the struggle that followed, a gunshot fatally wounded one of the assailants. The remaining two suspects fled the scene on their motorcycle, abandoning their accomplice.
The driver sustained minor injuries and received treatment at Kambu Hospital before being discharged. Authorities transferred the body of the deceased suspect to the Kambu Hospital Mortuary as detectives moved to pursue those who escaped.
Investigators have since launched a full-scale manhunt and are actively following several leads in a bid to track down and arrest the two suspects still at large.
The DCI made clear that driver vigilance and strict adherence to safety protocols remain the strongest weapons against highway crime. Security agencies are urging all road users, especially those handling high-value transit goods, to put their personal safety first and resist the instinct to stop for strangers in isolated areas, no matter how genuine an emergency may appear.
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