Detectives in Bomet County have recovered nine out of the 23 vehicles stolen from the region in the last six months and arraigned three suspects before court.
The police are pursuing another four member gangsters believed to be running a car theft syndicate in the area.
The County Criminal Investigation Officer Mr. Jacob Muli said his officers were closing in on the gangsters that had been terrorizing car owners since December last year.
He said already three other suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft were already facing charges in various courts.
Mr Muli accompanied by County National Police Commander, Mrs. Naomi Ichami made the remarks in Bomet town on Friday during a press briefing saying they had leads linking the suspects to car theft.
“Our investigation has led us to three suspects and we are on a hot pursuit of them and soon we will crack the whip,”Mr. Muli said.
He said there was huge progress in recovering the remaining vehicles stolen from the county as some are believed to have crossed Kenyan borders.
“There is progress in recovering the remaining vehicles and we wish to ask for patience as we track the suspects,” he added.
Mrs. Ichami on her part asked locals to be extra vigilant with their vehicles in the wake of increasing theft.
She said there was need for car owners to put security devices on their vehicles that will help in keeping at bay the thieves.
The county commander said car alarms and tracking devices are necessary in the wake of the theft.
She said the devices would not only protect the cars but also aid officers pursuing and cracking on the syndicate.
“We need the intervention of locals through such devices to keep away theft incidents and bringing to book anyone attempting to steal,” she said.
The security officials were forced to respond on the car theft menace that has rocked the county after public outcry and accusation that they were dragging their feet in addressing the problem.
“We have intensified patrols and with time car theft in Bomet will be a thing of the past,” Mrs Ichami stated.
The latest car to be stolen happened two weeks belonging to a County Executive Member in charge of Sports and Youth, Bernard Ngeno.
The incident provoked anger with a section of residents demanding that Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to overhaul security officials to help in checking the car theft problem.
Bomet was a quiet small town growing up steadily with the inception of devolution, but crime rates especially the stealing of cars has awakened the residents since the crime will scare away investors.
By Joseph Obwocha
