Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on June 5, 2024 arrested a police officer and two other suspects over the theft of 522 bags of rice in Kibwezi, Makueni County.

According to the police report, the incident happened on June 5, 2024 at night when thieves hijacked a lorry that was transporting 522 bags of rice from Mombasa to Nairobi.

“DCI Kibwezi has launched investigation into the theft of 522 bags (each 25kgs) of rice that were stolen on 05/06/2024 at 0230hrs, after a driver of a vehicle registration number KCY 107U, an Isuzu FRR lorry, enroute from Mombasa towards Nairobi was accosted by six men who took control of the lorry within Thange area. The driver was later abandoned at Ngwata area,” read part of the DCI report.

Three suspects were arrested during the incident, namely; Francis Mutiso (a police officer), Jude Kandie and John Musingi.

At the same time, the officers detained a probox of registration number  KDD 396T in connection to the theft of rice.

Meanwhile, police are following possible leads in order to recover the hijacked lorry.

The incident comes a few days after two suspects, including a police officer, were arrested over illegal possession of wildlife trophies in Mwingi, Kitui County.

Hillary Cheruiyot Kipkurui, a police officer attached to CIPU Tseikuru, and Geoffrey Muli were arrested on May 12, 2024 by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers who received a tip off on the illegal activity.

A report filed at Mwingi Police Station indicates that the two were using a Toyota Probox, registration number KDP 694G, to ferry the 10 pieces of elephant tusks.