Thika police arrest conductor, nab vehicle used to rob commuters in Makongeni-Kiganjo route.

Thika OCPD Willy Simba (left) and OCS Michael Otinya inspect the 14-seater matatu used by the suspects to rob commuters of their money and valuables along the Thika-Makongeni-Kiganjo route.

Police in Thika are holding a 14-seater matatu and its ‘conductor’ in relation to a series of robberies and theft incidents along Thika-Makongeni-Kiganjo route over the last few months.

Thika West OCPD Willy Simba says that the suspect is part of a gang that has been terrorising unsuspecting commuters and stealing from them before dumping them along the way.

According to the OCPD, the matatu registration number KBJ 642K is labeled under the guise of ‘TS SACCO’ which commuters easily confuse with 2TS SACCO matatus that are commonly associated with this route.

Documents found in the matatu indicate that the matatu was registered under Webuye Shuttle and licenced to operate between Eldoret-Kitale and Kakamega-Kimilili routes.

The OCPD added that police managed to nab the vehicle following a tipoff from members of the public who have for a long time complained about losing items from the said matatu whose activities have been suspect.

“Following some tipoff from the public, we laid a trap and managed to get the vehicle. Unfortunately the driver managed to escape but we are holding one suspect who some of the victims identified as the one who acted as the conductor,” explained the OCPD.

In the incident, the suspect was found in possession of three mobile phones which were positively identified by their owners. He added that several people have since recorded some statement.

Simba said that his officers will liaise with the NTSA, the KRA and IVESCO Insurance Company to ascertain its ownership and where it is actually a stolen vehicle.

“We are still investigating to ascertain which SACCO it belongs to, its owner and whether it is a case of a stolen vehicle with fake number plates,” said Simba.

Meanwhile, 2TS SACCO chairman Michael Kamande has warned members of the public to be wary of suspicious vehicles working under the guise of their Sacco.

Kamande said that currently there were so many unregistered matatus who operated in Thika and had been labeled names that were quite similar to their SACCO. This way, he added, many commuters were duped to board them thinking that they were riding on 2TS matatus.

“We can never take responsibility for any loss or harm to the members of public by any matatu that does not belong to 2TS Sacco. We usually advise our customers to always board our matatus from our designated matatu terminus at Whiteline and elsewhere. That way, they are guaranteed of safety and subsequent action in case any of our crew misbehaves or otherwise,” said Kamande.

He also advised members of public to make it a habit to identify the vehicles they board by their number plate of the matatu crew involved to make it easier to locate them in case of any complaint.

Otherwise, the Sacco was very grateful to the police for apprehending the said vehicle saying that his office had been receiving complaints from the members of public who had been duped to think that such vehicles belonged to their company.