Police in Kitui County have arrested a man suspected of stealing a vehicle from Kiambu County after officers tracked and intercepted the car following a chase covering more than 96 kilometres.
The suspect was driving a white Nissan Serena, registration number KDU 239V, which had reportedly been stolen from the Kiambu area.
The vehicle was traced using a tracking device, with its location leading officers to the Katangi–Kitui road.
Officers attached to Katangi Police Patrol Base reportedly picked up the vehicle's trail and pursued it for more than 96 kilometres before intercepting it at the Kanyonyo–Thika–Garissa T-junction.
The lone occupant, who was behind the wheel, was arrested during the operation and the vehicle recovered.
Suspect arrested and vehicle recovered
Police are expected to coordinate its transfer to the relevant station as investigations continue.
The suspect is also being investigated over his alleged links to several high-profile robbery cases reported in Nairobi.
Police have not publicly disclosed the specific incidents or the nature of the alleged connection, and the claims are expected to be subjected to further investigation.
He was booked at Katangi Police Patrol Base, where he is being held pending transfer to Kayole Police Station for further questioning and processing.
Detectives are expected to establish whether the recovered Nissan Serena was stolen by an individual acting alone or as part of a wider vehicle theft network.
The recovery comes amid sustained investigations into organised motor vehicle theft in Kenya, with detectives warning that the crime often involves several people performing specialised roles, from stealing vehicles to altering their identities and selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
Ongoing investigations into vehicle theft
In May 2025, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced that it had arrested 28 suspects and recovered 22 stolen vehicles in a nationwide operation targeting motor vehicle theft networks.
The operation covered Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia and Bungoma counties.
Investigators said the networks used different methods, including car-hire scams, theft from parking lots, robbery with violence and carjacking.
Some of the recovered vehicles had reportedly been sold to unsuspecting buyers locally, while others were destined for neighbouring countries, particularly Uganda and Tanzania.
The crackdown also exposed the specialised roles allegedly played by members of the networks.
Police identified suspects linked to removing or altering chassis numbers, disabling tracking devices, producing counterfeit number plates and selling stolen vehicles.
One suspect was described by detectives as an expert in removing vehicle trackers, while another was allegedly involved in changing the identity of stolen cars before they were offered for sale.
In a separate incident reported in March 2025, detectives in Mombasa recovered a Toyota Axio that had been stolen in Nairobi.
Two suspects were arrested in Kisauni, where officers reportedly found the vehicle fitted with different number plates, its dashboard partly dismantled and the original tracking device abandoned nearby.
Police also recovered dismantled trackers, assorted car keys and a key-programming machine.
Another high-profile recovery was reported in February 2026, when detectives traced a Mercedes-Benz GLE stolen from a Westlands dealership to Imbirikani in Kajiado County.
The recovery followed a police chase as the suspects allegedly attempted to move the vehicle towards the Tanzania border.
The car had reportedly been fitted with registration plates by the time officers intercepted it.
The cases point to the different stages that can be involved in organised vehicle theft, from the initial stealing of a car to altering its identity, moving it across counties or borders, and attempting to sell it.
Importance of vehicle security measures
The DCI has urged motorists to install reliable anti-theft devices, use secure parking facilities and verify the identities of people seeking to hire their vehicles. Motorists are also encouraged to report suspicious activity and promptly notify police when a vehicle goes missing.
Investigations into the recovery of the Nissan Serena are expected to establish whether the arrested driver was connected to other reported thefts and whether additional suspects were involved in the vehicle's disappearance and movement from Kiambu to Kitui.
