A few years ago, a daring operation shocked the nation when an armoured BMW from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s security convoy was stolen at gunpoint in Nairobi.

 

The vehicle was recovered in the town of Tororo by Ugandan police and officers from the Kenyan flying squad.

 

Although Flying Squad and Interpol officers moved fast to arrest the suspects, the dramatic robbery showed the extent at which car theft syndicates are willing to go to drive away with their trophies. One of the suspects arrested in Nakuru was a mechanic who allegedly made illegal alterations to the car.

 

A spokesman for the had tried to make light of the theft, insisting that it was only a police vehicle and not part of an official motorcade when it was seized. But Kenyan media revealed that it was being driven by a serving police inspector who is part of presidential security staff.

 

The syndicate consists of armed gangsters, corrupt customs officials, car dealers and mechanics, police said.

 

The BMW 735 was stolen in Utawala, Nairobi and recovered in Kampala six days later.

 

Head of Flying Squad Munga Nyale said police were looking for more suspects.

 

“The Kenyans (who stole the car) delivered it to their Ugandan counterparts. We later realised it was a cross-border syndicate when we caught up with them. Ugandan detectives were of great help to our officers who were tracking the vehicle,” he said.

 

“Together with our counterparts in Uganda, we now know all the suspects involved. Four will be charged in court on Monday and we are pursuing others.”

 

The vehicle was handed over to the Presidential Escort Unit Commandant.

 

Chief Inspector of Police David Machui, who was driving the vehicle before gangsters carjacked him,  picked out his attackers at an identification parade before they were taken to court.

 

The car arrived at the Flying Squad yard at the Nairobi police headquarters after a journey of about 10 hours.

 

It arrived in a convoy of five cars that carried a battery of undercover detectives who had been tracking it for a week.

 

Though its registration number plate – KAW 479Y – had been removed, a close observation showed it had been given a new identity, ready for sale. The right side mirror was also missing.

 

As is common with government vehicles, its alternative registration is GK A374E.

 

An insurance sticker showed it was registered in Uganda as UAA 492X and owned by City Autor Care. The insurance was supposedly covered by NIC Insurance Limited and valid for a year from August 29, just two days after it was reported stolen.

 

The State later dropped charges against Mr Aggrey Ochieng, a Nakuru mechanic initially taken to court over the theft.

 

Mr Nyale said the mechanic was found with a Toyota Avensis taken to his garage earlier by the gangsters arrested over the BMW theft.

 

The theft exposed serious security breaches in the way police officers across the country collaborate to track criminals.

 

But Mr Nyale was defensive in explaining why the vehicle crossed several police divisions, across the country without being intercepted even after the robbery report was circulated.

 

“It was circulated almost immediately and we do not know when the registration plate was changed. It takes a minute to do so but they moved all the way just by sheer luck,” he said.

 

Mr Nyale said he was not mandated to say if action would be taken against the officer who was driving the vehicle.

 

However, the then Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said if investigations found any officers erred, “administrative” action would be taken against them.

 

“There are many areas we are investigating. It doesn’t end just like that. We have to deal with the criminal and whoever was in charge of the vehicle, administratively,” Kimaiyo said.

 

Sources investigating the theft questioned how Inspector Machui was allowed to drive a government vehicle home when procedures dictate that government vehicles be parked at the nearest police station or DC’s, DO’s or Chief’s office.

 

In this case, Presidential Escort vehicles are regularly parked at State House or at the unit’s quarters in Highridge.

 

 

 

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