Wednesday November 9, 2022
Detectives have Monday arrested the alleged mastermind behind the spate of armed robberies that have rocked the city in the past few days.
John Mutiso Makau alias Katitu, believed to be a returnee from the Alshabaab militia in Somalia, was arrested after a dramatic chase in Nairobi’s Kayole estate, pitting detectives from the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, backed up by a contingent of officers from Kayole police division.
In the 48-hour planned operation, detectives had prior to Katitu’s arrest rounded up two of his accomplices Brian Wambua Mbindyo and Danson Musyoka Mulee.
According to the detectives, trouble for the thugs started when the sleuths gathered sufficient actionable intelligence regarding their whereabouts, following the gruesome killing of a man who was shot at four times in broad daylight, seconds after walking out of a bank in Donholm, on October 31, 2022.
In the incident that attracted countrywide attention, the suspected thugs had pumped four bullets into Nicodemus Mbuvi Munyasya, who was walking out of Donholm’s Family bank carrying a carrier bag, killing him on the spot.
The 38-year-old accounts clerk at extra paints manufacturing limited had deposited a cheque in the bank and was walking out carrying two disposable cups in a carrier bag.
Immediately he stepped out of the banking hall, two thugs on a motorbike accosted him and a scuffle ensued as the thugs snatched the bag from Munyasia, assuming that it contained a wad of cash.
When Munyasia resisted, he was shot at four times, three times on his legs and once in his chest by the fleeing thugs.
Forensic Crime Scene detectives recovered one spent cartridge and one bullet head at the scene.
Three days before the incident, the suspects had accosted a woman as she left her Mpesa shop in Umoja estate, and shot her in the ankle before taking possession of her handbag which contained an unspecified amount of money.
Regina Chege was approaching the gate to her house at around 9:30 pm when the thugs on a motorbike struck. This incident was similar to one reported at Embakasi police station on October 19, where one Dennis Musyoki and his wife who operates an Mpesa outlet were attacked at gunpoint as they walked home.
In yet another incident involving the armed gang, a retired managing director of Coast Development Authority, had been accosted at the gate to his compound in April, this year.
James Kahindi was parking his vehicle at his home in Gataka, Ongata Rongai when two men opened the doors to his vehicle, a Toyota Hilux. Kahindi, a licensed firearm holder reached for his Ceska pistol and fired two shots in the air, as the terrified thugs scampered for dear life.
During the incident, the thugs shot at Kahindi’s house help who was rushed to Nairobi Women’s hospital in stable condition.
Preliminary findings from the Forensic Ballistic Unit based at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory established that the firearm used in all four incidents was similar.
The detectives also established that one of the main suspect’s accomplices Danson Musyoka had a past criminal record and had been involved in various bank heists before going under.
“When he realized that he was on our radar, he retreated to his rural home in Matuu where he put up a modest home,” says the authority.
Musyoka had recently sneaked back to the city where he teamed up with Katitu and Mbindyo to terrorize city residents.
Meanwhile, on Sunday night, detectives recovered 18 rounds of 9mm calibre from Katitu’s house in Fedha estate.
An operation to arrest the fourth accomplice only identified as Willie or Ibrah also a returnee from Somalia is currently underway.