Kisumu East, Kenya, October 10th – The number of recovered motor vehicles linked to a suspected car theft syndicate in Kisumu has increased to 15.
This increase follows the recovery of three silver Toyota Axio saloon cars, with the registration numbers KDG 859Q, KCZ 578N, and KDD 559J.
The recovery was made by law enforcement officers from Migosi and Kasagam Police Stations, as well as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kisumu East Sub-County, acting on an intelligence tip-off from a reliable source.
According to reports released by the police on Thursday, October 9th, the vehicle KDD 559J was discovered hidden in the parking lot of Valley Hospital.
In contrast, KDG 859Q and KCZ 578N were found in an isolated garage near the Obunga area on the main airport road, where they were reportedly being repaired by the main suspect, Evans Otieno Meda, three months prior.
It’s worth noting that the latter two vehicles had both been involved in road traffic accidents at unknown locations and have since been towed to the Migosi police station yard for further investigations.
In related developments, the main suspect in the car theft syndicate, Mr Meda, was arrested by officers from the Kisumu Central Police Station on Wednesday, October 8th.
He is implicated in a case involving 12 stolen vehicles located in the Khayeko area and Aliwa village, located in Kisumu East Sub-County, on Monday.
Mr Meda is believed to be orchestrating a network of motor vehicle thefts within Kisumu and its surrounding areas. He is also alleged to be connected to the case involving 11 vehicles currently detained without valid ownership documents at Migosi Police Station.
Mr Meda is currently being held at the central police station as the DCI has requested additional time for investigations. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Wednesday, October 15th.
Meanwhile, Mr Meda’s accomplices, Michael Erick Mwaga and Peter Andai, were arraigned at Winam Magistrate’s Court in Kisumu on Tuesday, October 7th, for possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles without valid ownership documents.
During their appearance before Principal Magistrate Dennis Ogal, the two suspects pleaded not guilty. The magistrate granted the prosecution’s request for a custodial sentence.
Both suspects are now being held at Kasagam Police Station, and their case is set for mention on Monday, October 13th. The operation to recover all suspected stolen motor vehicles is ongoing.
