Dramatic Arrest in South B

NAIROBI – Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) apprehended six individuals, including one Tanzanian national, on Sunday, November 16, 2025, thwarting an active house-breaking attempt in the Jokim area of South B, Nairobi. The well-coordinated police operation was triggered after homeowners, who were out of town, observed the suspects attempting to gain entry to their property via a live CCTV feed and immediately alerted law enforcement.

Makadara Sub-County Police Commander, Judith Nyongesa, confirmed the arrests on Monday, November 17, stating that the suspects are linked to a wider criminal network responsible for a recent wave of burglaries. The gang is believed to have targeted homes in several upscale neighbourhoods, including Westlands, Parklands, Lavington, Kilimani, and South C, primarily striking when residents were away during weekends or holidays.

During the Sunday evening operation, police intercepted the suspects as they attempted to flee the scene. Security footage captured the moment a police vehicle blocked the gang's getaway car, a black Toyota Prado, before officers ordered the occupants out at gunpoint. Besides the Prado, the syndicate also allegedly utilized a Nissan X-Trail and a Mazda Demio, all believed to be fitted with fake number plates to evade detection. Authorities recovered a cache of specialized break-in tools and master keys from the suspects.

A Sophisticated Criminal Enterprise

Investigations suggest a highly organized operation, with police indicating that some members of the gang may have colluded with security guards at residential properties to facilitate the crimes. According to a police statement, one of the arrested men has been previously implicated in several similar incidents. A woman in the group reportedly acted as a lookout, monitoring the surroundings to alert her accomplices of any approaching police presence.

The syndicate's primary targets were high-value household goods, particularly electronics, alongside clothing and cash. Authorities are also investigating leads that suggest the stolen merchandise was being trafficked and sold outside of Kenya. This modus operandi, involving the use of high-end vehicles to blend into affluent estates, has been a growing concern for security analysts and residents. A report from October 2025 highlighted how criminal syndicates were increasingly using luxury SUVs to carry out surveillance and robberies in Nairobi's wealthy suburbs.

Context of Rising Insecurity in the Capital

While this successful police operation provides a measure of relief, it occurs against a backdrop of rising public anxiety over crime rates in Nairobi. A September 2025 police operation in the Central Business District (CBD) resulted in the arrest of 214 individuals amid growing complaints of muggings, violent robberies, and drugging incidents. Residents have increasingly taken to social media to share accounts of attacks, particularly in the evening hours.

Official statistics appear to validate these public concerns. The 2025 Economic Survey released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealed a sustained increase in reported crime in Nairobi since 2020. The capital city recorded 9,717 reported crime cases in 2024, a significant jump from 5,844 cases in 2020. Across Kenya, reported crimes surpassed 100,000 for the first time in 2023, a 19 percent national increase driven by a spike in robberies and theft amid challenging economic conditions, as reported by The EastAfrican in May 2024.

The U.S. State Department has also issued advisories cautioning its citizens about the risk of violent crime in Kenya, noting that incidents like carjacking, mugging, and home invasions can occur at any time and that local police often have limited capacity to respond effectively. The recent arrests in South B, however, demonstrate a critical success in proactive, intelligence-led policing. The suspects are currently being processed and are expected to be arraigned in court this week to face charges related to burglary and possession of house-breaking implements as investigations into their wider network continue.