Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have apprehended two individuals believed to be involved in thefts from locked vehicles parked near banking facilities.

The suspects, Charles Mulwa Mwema and Shaban Maingi Rashid, were arrested as a result of a coordinated effort between DCI Embakasi detectives and the branch manager of NCBA Bank Utawala, who worked together to locate them.

Initial investigations indicate that the suspects are linked to additional incidents of vehicle break-ins and theft, including a recent case reported at Bensquare Police Post on November 23, 2024.

It is alleged that the suspects absconded with Ksh.500,000 from a secured vehicle.

The pair has been taken into custody in Embakasi and will face charges of robbery in court.

Three men and a minor, convicted for the brutal murder of four elderly women in Marani, Kisii County, four years prior, have received a combined sentence of 135 years in prison.

Nyakundi Amos Ondieki, Evans Ogeto Okari, Hesbon Ong’ondi Gichana, and Chrispine Makworo perpetrated the crime on October 17, 2021, as part of a mob that lynched the elderly women—Jemima Miranga, 60, Agnes Ototo, 57, Sigara Onkware, 62, and Sindege Mayaka—based on accusations of witchcraft.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday by High Court Judge Waweru Kiarie, Ondieki, Okari, and Gichana each received a 40-year prison sentence, while Makworo, being a minor at the time of the incident, was sentenced to 15 years.

Following the verdict, families of the victims and human rights organizations expressed their approval of the decision.

“I am satisfied with today’s ruling. The families affected have endured significant hardship,” stated Bosire Mayaka, son of the late Sindege Mayaka.

“As advocates for human rights, we welcome this verdict; justice has been achieved. This should serve as a deterrent to those who take the law into their own hands,” remarked Hellen Kiriama, a representative of the Utu Organisation.

Conversely, the convicts expressed their disagreement with the ruling, and their families voiced disappointment, claiming the outcome was not what they had anticipated.

“I am not satisfied with the ruling. Out of more than 250 individuals, they chose to imprison these four,” lamented Christine Ondieki, mother of Amos Ondieki.

The families of the convicts are now considering the possibility of an appeal.

Authorities in Kilimani have apprehended three individuals suspected of being serial fraudsters who attempted to deceive a victim with counterfeit US Dollars amounting to 1.2 million (equivalent to Ksh.155.4 million).

The suspects, identified as Rafael Ojiambo, Samuel Ayako, and Wilfred Gitonga, were intercepted along Nyerere Road while traveling in a Toyota NZE vehicle. They were in the process of delivering a safe containing the counterfeit currency in exchange for legitimate cash.

“The trio, who had begun to count their anticipated gains, were halted while transferring a safe filled with 1.2 million counterfeit US Dollars to the victim in a bid to secure clean money. They had previously defrauded another unsuspecting Kenyan of Ksh.4.3 million,” stated the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

“A Toyota NZE with registration number KBN 101D, which was transporting the safe containing the counterfeit currency, was seized, along with the safe and its contents, which have been retained as evidence.”

Subsequent to their arrest, the suspects were presented in Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court, where they were ordered to remain in custody at Kilimani Police Station until January 27, 2025.

The DCI has urged the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes designed to exploit individuals seeking quick financial gains.

“Investigations have indicated that several victims have lost significant assets, including homes and vehicles, which were used as collateral in exchange for cash that ultimately vanished, leaving victims with nothing but large sums of counterfeit currency,” the DCI cautioned.

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has granted a pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the individual responsible for the “Silk Road” online marketplace, which was involved in facilitating drug sales amounting to millions of dollars.

In 2015, Ulbricht received a life sentence after being found guilty of orchestrating the “dark web” platform, where approximately $200 million worth of narcotics were sold to customers globally.

Operating under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht faced allegations of commissioning five murders and was ultimately sentenced to two life terms for drug distribution and engaging in a criminal enterprise.

During his campaign last year, Trump had pledged to secure Ulbricht’s release while addressing the Libertarian National Convention, aiming to garner support from the fringe party.

“I just contacted the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to inform her that, in recognition of her and the Libertarian Movement, which has been a strong supporter of mine, I have signed a full and unconditional pardon for her son,” Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform, a day after his inauguration.

Ulbricht’s situation has garnered significant attention within libertarian circles, with advocates condemning his conviction as an example of government overreach and contrary to free market principles.

“The individuals responsible for his conviction were among those who have sought to weaponize the government against me,” Trump remarked on Tuesday.

The Republican has consistently asserted that the federal and state criminal charges against him are politically motivated.

Previously, Trump has expressed intentions to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers; however, his commitment to free Ulbricht was met with enthusiasm from the audience last May.

The Libertarian Party often fields minor candidates who advocate for popular limited-government policies, such as marijuana legalization, while also promoting more fringe ideas like the abolition of the federal tax collection agency and social security.

Detectives in Loitoktok, Kajiado County, are actively searching for a father accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his 14-year-old daughter in Isinet town on Monday night.

Kajiado South sub-county Police Commander Kiprotich Chekwony reported that the body of the Grade 8 leaner was discovered in her parents’ bed on Tuesday morning, showing signs of neck injuries.

Mr. Chekwony explained that the suspect had returned home on Monday after an extended absence, leading to a confrontation with his 37-year-old wife. During this altercation, he allegedly threatened her life, prompting her to seek safety at a neighbor’s residence.

“The suspect reportedly left the home in haste for an unknown location, only to return later that night to find his two daughters alone. He is believed to have assaulted his younger daughter after locking her 16-year-old sister out of the house around 9 PM,” stated the police commander.

The suspect, who is thought to be a Tanzanian national, is currently evading capture following the incident.

“We have learned that the couple had a disagreement earlier that day, which led the wife to take refuge at a neighbor’s house. Upon his return, the husband found the two girls alone and is suspected of having raped the deceased before leaving her for dead,” Mr. Chekwony added.

The police chief further mentioned that officers are attempting to locate the suspect by tracking the last signal from his phone, which has since been turned off.

“We suspect he may have fled to neighboring Tanzania, but we are pursuing leads to apprehend him. We remain hopeful of locating him soon,” he remarked.

In the meantime, the body of the victim has been transferred to the mortuary at Loitokitok sub-county hospital.

The Cabinet has sanctioned the consolidation of approximately 42 state-owned enterprises, reducing their total to 20 in an effort to decrease expenses and enhance operational efficiency.

During a meeting led by President William Ruto at the Kakamega State Lodge on Tuesday—marking his inaugural Cabinet meeting of 2025—the Executive Arm of Government also resolved to dissolve nine corporations and divest from 16 others.

“In alignment with our commitment to optimize government functions, minimize waste, and mitigate excesses, the Cabinet has endorsed a series of recommendations aimed at reforming state corporations,” the Cabinet dispatch states in part.

“These reforms have become essential due to escalating fiscal pressures stemming from limited government resources, the necessity for high-quality public services, and the increasing burden of public debt. Numerous state corporations have faced challenges in fulfilling their contractual and statutory responsibilities, resulting in an accumulation of pending bills totaling Sh94.4 billion as of March 31, 2024,” the dispatch continues.

“The reforms are designed to tackle operational and financial inefficiencies, improve service delivery, and lessen dependence on the Exchequer. The National Treasury evaluated 271 state corporations, excluding those designated for privatization.”

The Cabinet emphasized that the merging of the 42 state corporations aims to enhance operational efficiency and eliminate redundancy.

“Nine state corporations will be dissolved, with their responsibilities reassigned to appropriate ministries or other state entities, while 16 corporations with outdated functions that could be managed by the private sector will be divested or dissolved,” the dispatch notes.

“Six state corporations will undergo restructuring to better align their mandates and improve performance.”

Additionally, the Cabinet approved the declassification of four public funds currently categorized as state corporations, returning them to the relevant ministries with an enhanced governance framework.