Three persons of interest linked to a series of violent robberies in Gem Yala Sub-county and neighbouring areas have been arrested.
In a statement shared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday, February 1, 2025, the individuals had been under active investigation due to their involvement in multiple robbery and violence incidents that left several people dead and others injured.
According to the authorities, the most notable case occurred on January 3, 2025, when the trio targeted a timber yard and hardware store near Ulumbi Junction along the Kisumu-Busia highway. During this brutal attack, a 40-year-old watchman, Jesse Kalasinga, was mercilessly killed, and assorted hardware goods were stolen.
“Three notorious suspects linked to a series of robbery with violence incidents that have plagued Gem Yala Sub-county and surrounding areas have finally been arrested.
“Detectives have been actively pursuing the suspects for their involvement in a robbery with violence incident that took place on January 3, 2025, at a timber yard and hardware store near Ulumbi Junction along the Kisumu-Busia highway. On that day, the trio mercilessly attacked and killed the watchman, Jesse Kalasinga, 40, and brazenly stole assorted hardware goods,” the DCI statement read in part.
Violence
DCI reported that the reign of terror continued on January 20, 2025, at Nyang’oma Market. The group and their accomplices vandalized a transformer, causing a power outage across the market. They then ruthlessly attacked the security personnel, killing a 29-year-old watchman, Absalom Sande, and seriously injuring another, 42-year-old Francis Nyambese. Following the violent assault, they broke into a phone accessories shop and stole a Dell laptop, three smartphones, and other valuables.
“In a shocking display of brutality, on January 20, 2025, at Nyang’oma Market, the three, together with their accomplices, vandalized a transformer, causing a power outage in the said market. They thereafter ruthlessly killed the watchman, Absalom Sande, aged 29, and seriously injured another, Francis Nyambese, aged 42, before breaking into a phone accessories shop and stealing a Dell laptop, three smartphones, and other valuables,” the statement read further.
On January 29, 2025, the same group struck again at Yala Market. In this incident, they fatally injured two guards, Jesse Otieno, aged 35, and Edward Ochieng, aged 40. After overpowering the security, they broke into a shop, making off with assorted airtime scratch cards, smartphones, and other valuable merchandise.
“The suspects continued their reign of terror on January 29, 2025, at Yala Market, where they fatally injured guards Jesse Otieno, 35, and Edward Ochieng, 40. They afterwards broke into a shop and made off with assorted airtime scratch cards, smartphones, and valuable merchandise.”
The DCI confirmed that after an intensive investigation and manhunt, the three persons of interest were finally apprehended.
“After meeting their Waterloo, the suspects are in police custody, undergoing processing as they await their court appearance,” the statement read.
