Three Ugandans arrested in Trans Nzoia for violent robberies

Security personnel have arrested three Ugandans and a Kenyan suspected to be behind a wave of violent robberies and theft of motorcycles along the border of the two countries.

Trans Nzoia County Police commander Lillian Okembo said police seized the suspects at Makoi following a crackdown.

Mrs Okembo said the suspects are being held at Kitale Police Station.

“We are holding three Ugandans and a Kenyan who we suspect are prime culprits of the violent robberies of motorcycles and other border crimes and we are pursuing others,” said the county police chief.

Firearm dealer

The arrests come barely a week after police recovered an AK47 rifle and 19 bullets, which were abandoned by a suspected firearm dealer along the Endebess-Suan highway.

The suspect jumped from his motorcycle and escaped into a maize plantation in Japata when police ordered him to stop. Okembo said surveillance had been enhanced along the border to check the proliferation of firearms to the country.

And Trans Nzoia leaders have urged residents to embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative to help tackle crime.