A driver and his conductor have been arrested following claims that they faked a robbery involving a lorry along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. The case came to light after a report was filed at Mlolongo Police Station by the lorry owner, who alleged that the vehicle had been robbed on May 22 while transporting 12 tonnes of galvanized wire from Mombasa to Nairobi.
According to the report, the crew stated that as they passed through the Maungu area, a white Toyota Probox blocked their path. The occupants of the vehicle allegedly robbed the lorry, tied up the driver and conductor, and abandoned them in a nearby thicket. They also claimed to have picked up two hitchhikers at Samburu, who they later identified as the robbers.
However, investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Voi revealed discrepancies in the story. The lorry was equipped with a tracking device, which showed that the vehicle was stationary at Samburu for only about two seconds, casting doubt on the claim that hitchhikers were picked up. Furthermore, mobile money transactions conducted by the crew were traced to the Kasarani area of Voi, about 15 kilometers beyond the alleged robbery scene and after the supposed time of the incident. One of the crew members made deposits of Sh2,000 and Sh1,500 on the same day.
Following these findings, the driver and conductor were located and arrested on June 4. They were taken to Voi to face charges including giving false information to a public officer, contrary to Section 129 of the Penal Code, and stealing by a servant, contrary to Section 281 of the Penal Code. Efforts to recover the lorry are ongoing.
Police have noted an increase in theft and robbery cases along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, especially targeting vehicles carrying valuable cargo. The use of technology, including vehicle tracking systems, is playing a significant role in investigations. Authorities are also probing whether some reported robberies may have been staged for commercial gain, signaling a worrying trend that undermines genuine security concerns along the vital transport corridor.
