Two arraigned in Thika over motorcycle theft as police intensify crackdown on syndicates

Two suspects have been arraigned before a Thika court for allegedly stealing a motorcycle, as security agencies step up efforts to dismantle an increasingly sophisticated motorbike theft syndicate operating across the country.

Nelly Jemutai and Cecil Kiplimo were charged with stealing a motorcycle belonging to Watu Credit Limited. The offence is said to have been committed on February 23, 2026, in  Makongeni area of Thika West Sub-County. Detectives arrested the two on Saturday following investigations into the theft.

The duo appeared before Thika Senior Resident Magistrate Fredrick Koome, where they faced charges of stealing a motorcycle contrary to Section 278A of the Penal Code. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the charge sheet, the two, jointly with others not before the court, allegedly stole motorcycle registration number KMGV 997V, a red Boxer Bajaj valued at Ksh. 194,470, the property of Watu Credit Limited.

The court released the suspects on a bond of Ksh. 200,000 each with one surety of a similar amount, or an alternative cash bail of Ksh. 200,000. The case will be mentioned on April 10, while the hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2026.

The case comes against the backdrop of a sharp rise in motorcycle theft across several regions, with authorities linking the crimes to well-organized syndicates. The criminal networks are known to orchestrate violent robberies and quickly dismantle stolen motorcycles for spare parts or smuggle them across borders for illegal resale.

Security reports indicate that some gangs deploy women to pose as passengers in order to lure riders before drugging them, while others hire criminals to attack riders directly and seize their motorcycles.

Police say they have made notable progress in combating the cartels behind the trans-border trade in stolen motorcycles. In July 2024, officers in Eldoret recovered 59 motorcycles and 35 engines during a raid at the premises of a suspected illegal dealer.

Statistics show that motorcycle theft remains alarmingly high. In 2024 alone, more than 10,000 motorcycles were reported stolen, with criminals increasingly targeting not only entire bikes but also individual components.

Authorities have also raised concerns over the growing trend of targeting motorcycles acquired through asset financing firms such as Watu Credit. Questions have emerged over how some of the stolen bikes, many fitted with tracking devices, disappear without trace.

Frustration over the rising cases has at times led to mob justice, with suspected thieves attacked by members of the public. Recent incidents include the lynching of a suspect in Narok in January this year and the burning of two suspects in Nairobi in June 2025. In May last year, police arrested a mechanic in Machakos town accused of disabling tracking devices on stolen motorcycles.

Despite ongoing operations, only about 15 percent of stolen vehicles, including motorcycles, are successfully recovered.

In response, police have intensified crackdowns in the most affected regions, including Nairobi, Central Kenya and parts of Western Kenya. Officers are also working closely with bodaboda associations to enhance patrols, strengthen tracking systems and introduce tighter sector regulations to curb the escalating menace.

Under Section 278A of the Penal Code, stealing a motor vehicle attracts a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.