Detectives in Kirinyaga East Sub-County have arrested a prime suspect behind the kidnapping of Gatuto Primary School Headteacher, Joshua Kerai, which occurred on November 4, 2025, in Kagumo within the county.
In a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect, Patrick Gacoki Muembe, and his two accomplices, who are still at large, allegedly pounced on the unsuspecting teacher, bundling him into a maroon Toyota Ractis, registration no. KCP 816F, before subjecting him to a harrowing ordeal as they drove him around in circles.
"The victim was later found abandoned and in distress inside the same vehicle at Sahara Petrol Station in Kutus Town," the DCI said.
He was rescued by a good Samaritan who rushed him to Kerugoya Catholic Hospital, where he received medical attention.
Following the chilling incident, detectives swung into action, combing through forensic evidence and intelligence leads.
Police say their trail led them straight to Muembe’s hideout in Kutus, where the notorious suspect was smoked out after days of meticulous pursuit.
Investigations have since revealed that Muembe is a serial offender, linked to a string of serious crimes, including motor vehicle theft, stock theft, robberies, and shop break-ins across the region.
The suspect is currently in police custody as detectives pursue additional leads to trail and apprehend his two accomplices, who remain at large.
Meanwhile, police on November 9, 2025, arrested a man found trafficking narcotics along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway following a tip-off from members of the public.
Officers stationed at Samburu Police Station in Kwale County intercepted the suspect near the DEVKI Steel plant, where they flagged down a Mazda CX-5, registration KDR 284H, whose occupants attempted to flee.
One of them, identified as Christopher Hannington Jobita, was apprehended before he could escape. A search of the vehicle’s boot revealed sacks of bhang neatly packed for transportation.
Jobita was taken to Samburu Police Station for processing ahead of his arraignment, while the impounded vehicle and the seized narcotics were retained as exhibits as a manhunt continues for his accomplice.
