The long arm of the law has caught up with Peter Njuguna Gitau, the former Member of Parliament for Mwea, who has been arrested by detectives in connection with a daring syndicate stealing county government vehicles. Gitau is among five suspects in custody following the recovery of two Isuzu lorries stolen from Murang'a County.

The arrest marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former legislator. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) pounced on the group after a meticulous operation that tracked the stolen vehicles all the way from Gatanga to the coast. The lorries, stolen on August 16, 2025, were found in Makupa, Mombasa, fitted with fake registration plates in a failed attempt to conceal their identity.

The Mombasa Connection

According to the DCI, the theft was a well-coordinated job. The stolen vehicles, an Isuzu FVZ and an Isuzu FRR, were whisked away and driven over 500 kilometers to Mombasa. When detectives finally cornered the suspects, they found the trucks disguised with counterfeit plates—KDV 449C and KCA 505D. The suspects, led by the former MP, believed they had outsmarted the system.

"Following the arrest, the suspects led detectives to Mombasa county where the lorries were recovered," the DCI statement read. The five suspects—Gitau, Mark Kinyua, Erick Chege, David Kigo, and Joseph Ndung’u Waweru—are now being held as the masterminds of this "daring heist."

• County Assets: Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata confirmed the recovery on social media, revealing that one of the trucks was a garbage collection vehicle belonging to his government. "One suspect is a former Member of Parliament. Thank you police for helping us recover," he tweeted.
• Next Steps: The DCI is currently processing the suspects for arraignment. The recovered lorries are being returned to Gatanga, restoring critical services to the residents of Murang'a.

Political Crime Wave?

The involvement of a former high-ranking politician in such a brazen theft has sent shockwaves through the region. It raises questions about the nexus between politics and crime, and whether other public assets are being siphoned off by well-connected individuals. For Peter Njuguna Gitau, the journey from the august house to a police cell is a stark reminder that in the new Kenya, no one is above the law.