Three more suspects believed to be connected to the robbery at Chaiiwali Café in Westlands have been arrested, marking another major breakthrough in investigations into the daring incident that shocked Nairobi residents earlier this month.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), the suspects were arrested during a police operation conducted in the Mwiki and Githurai areas of Kiambu County. Officers reportedly moved in after gathering intelligence on the whereabouts of the suspects.
During the operation, the three allegedly attempted to escape, but police officers managed to apprehend them before they could flee.
Investigators later carried out a search at a residence linked to the suspects in the Kimbo area.
During the search, officers recovered two firearms loaded with ammunition.
The discovery is expected to play a key role in ongoing investigations as detectives work to establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement in the robbery and any other related crimes.
In a statement, the NPS said preliminary investigations had connected the suspects to the armed robbery that was captured on CCTV footage at a popular restaurant along General Mathenge Road in Spring Valley.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, showed armed men carrying out the robbery before escaping on motorcycles.
The robbery occurred on July 5 when armed men wearing face masks reportedly stormed the restaurant shortly after arriving on two motorbikes. Witnesses said the attackers brandished firearms and moved quickly through the establishment, targeting customers and their belongings.
Police reports indicate that the entire incident lasted less than a minute. During the robbery, six iPhones, one Samsung mobile phone, and a laptop were stolen from members of the public.
The speed of the attack and the manner in which it was executed raised concerns among residents and business owners in the area.
Investigations into the case have been ongoing since the incident.
Sources familiar with the probe revealed that one of the first leads came after police tracked one of the stolen phones, which remained active in the Baba Dogo area before eventually being switched off.
The latest arrests come days after another suspect linked to the robbery, Vincent Ochieng, was shot dead during a confrontation with detectives in Joska, Machakos County, on July 13. Police said Ochieng allegedly refused to surrender and instead engaged officers in a close-range shootout.
The three newly arrested suspects are expected to remain in police custody as investigations continue before they are formally presented in court.
Authorities say efforts are still ongoing to establish whether more individuals were involved in the robbery.
