Kisumu: Two suspects have been arrested and 11 stolen cars recovered by a multi-agency team during a crack operation to bust a motor-vehicle theft syndicate in Migosi area in Kisumu East sub-county. Confirming the incident, Kisumu County Commissioner (CC) Mr. Benson Leparmorijo said that security agencies acting on a tipoff raided two homes on Monday night in Khayeko Junction, two kilometers south of Migosi Police Station, and another homestead at Aliwa village.
According to Kenya News Agency, these raids led to the recovery of the eleven suspected stolen vehicles and the arrest of two suspects. The suspects had no documents to show ownership of the vehicles and the authorities are involving the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to help identify the true owners of these motor vehicles. Both suspects, aged 37 and 32 years respectively, are being held at Kasagam Police Station and will be arraigned in court to answer charges of being in possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles among other charges.
Leparmorijo mentioned that the main suspect, identified as Evans Otieno Meda, remains at large as police intensify efforts to track him down. A detailed search at the home of Eric Mwanga, the first suspect in Aliwa Village, yielded several suspected stolen motor-vehicle parts including three car radios of different makes, a rear car plate number cut into four pieces, a set of car number plates among other assorted vehicle parts.
All the recovered vehicles have been detained at Migosi Police Station yard, awaiting verification of ownership by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). The County Commissioner said the operation will continue as police pursue leads into what is believed to be a wider motor-vehicle theft syndicate and resale network operating within Kisumu and neighbouring counties and countries.
The latest report by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) on stolen motor vehicles indicates that a total of 327 motor vehicles were stolen in 2024, marking a significant 28 per cent decline from the 419 reported in 2023. The reduction could be attributed to improved security measures and increased vigilance among vehicle owners and law enforcement agencies. Those who steal motor vehicles target those with latest registration numbers and the Toyota series are the most preferred with vehicle body types at risk where the Toyota Station wagons continue to be the most stolen type of vehicle, representing 67.80 per cent of all thefts. Others include Lorries (11.46 per cent), Saloons (6.81 per cent) and Pick-ups (3.72 per cent).
Motor vehicle theft has occurred under various circumstances, including theft from parking lots, car hire scams, robbery with violence, and carjacking. These discoveries point to the importance of enhanced security measures, real-time tracking systems, and continued collaboration between law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and vehicle owners.