Nakuru Gun-Gang Busted As Police Recover Deadly AK-47 Rifle
The suspects have been identified as William Nywhili Rioba, Nyahili Nyamuhaga Magige, Emmanuel Muita Muita, Catherine Nkatha Zakayo, and Peter Chacha.
AK-47 Recovered. Photo/DCI.
By Robert Assad
Nakuru County residents can breathe a sigh of relief after a notorious armed gang that has been terrorizing the region was finally dismantled by a multi-agency team of detectives.
The group of five, whose criminal trail has left behind a string of violent attacks and deaths, was arrested in a coordinated operation over the weekend.
Acting on precise intelligence, a team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), including operatives from the elite Operation Action Team and Crime Research Bureau, joined forces with Nakuru detectives to track and flush out the suspects from their hideouts.
The raid culminated in the arrest of the five gang members and the recovery of a high-powered AK-47 rifle — serial number 18916 — which was hidden in dry grass near a house in the Rhoda area of Nakuru.
The firearm was loaded with three rounds of ammunition.Police believe this rifle was used in multiple violent crimes, including a deadly ambush on June 1, 2025, where officers on foot patrol were attacked.
One officer tragically lost his life while two others were critically injured and are currently undergoing treatment.In another chilling incident, the gang is reported to have stormed a shop in Soilo, where they viciously attacked the 24-year-old shopkeeper with machetes and daggers.
After looting the shop of hundreds of thousands of shillings, they dragged the injured victim outside and fatally shot him. Similar attacks have been reported across the county, spreading fear among residents.
The suspects have been identified as William Nywhili Rioba, Nyahili Nyamuhaga Magige, Emmanuel Muita Muita, Catherine Nkatha Zakayo, and Peter Chacha.
They are currently in police custody and will be arraigned on Tuesday, June 3.The DCI has assured the public that restoring safety in Nakuru and across Kenya is a top priority.
Several anti-robbery units have been deployed in hotspot areas, with ongoing operations targeting known criminal networks. Authorities emphasized that no effort will be spared in ending the reign of terror and ensuring the streets are free of armed criminals.
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