Police hunt for suspects after Sh34 million goes missing

By CYRUS OMBATI

A major police hunt is underway in Nairobi, Kiambu and Thika following the early morning disappearance of about Sh34 million that was on transit to Garissa.

Four police officers who were providing escort to the cash are missing. Police say the Wells Fargo van carrying the money left Equity Centre in Nairobi at about 6 am headed for Garissa Town but it has not reached the destination and is yet to be traced.

The car that was carrying armed police officers has been found abandoned along a by-pass in Juja area, off Thika Road but the van with the money is missing.

Several police units have been mobilised and officials say one suspect, the driver of the escort car, has been arrested.

Informed sources say the two vehicles had left Upper Hill and were headed for Garissa but when they arrived near Juja Town the crew changed direction and headed for Kiambu area.

"From there we are unable to contact the vehicle and crew. It took almost three hours for us to be informed the cash had not arrived in Garissa," said a senior officer involved in the operation.

The arrested suspect is being interrogated, as the hunt on the missing crew is ongoing. The incident came days after gunmen who stormed a bank in Mombasa Town and robbed Sh14 million.

Detectives in Nairobi were asked to join the hunt after the gang went to one of Kenya Commercial Bank Mombasa branches and grabbed the cash on Tuesday evening.

The bank’s manager and his assistant have been arrested following the incident in which police say could have been an inside job.

According to witness accounts, the Advantage Centre of the bank was still in operation at about on Tuesday at 6.30 pm when the gang arrived.

It is suspected the two-gang man may have fled to Nairobi and that is why officers there have been called to join in the hunt.

According to Coast Police boss James Adoli, the suspects went to the branch posing as customers before they suddenly produced pistols and ordered the manager to lead them to the strong room where they grabbed the cash.

Police who were called to the scene moments after the gang had escaped said they were in a waiting car.