Police arrest notorious 'Kapenguria Six' criminal gang wanted for violent robberies

Police arrest notorious 'Kapenguria Six' criminal gang wanted for violent robberies  

Kenyan police have arrested six members of a notorious criminal gang known as the “Kapenguria Six” in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County, suspected of terrorising local villages with a spate of robberies.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a joint security operation successfully intercepted the gang on January 18, 2026, following intelligence tracking their activities in Kaisheber, Nabeki, Cherubai, and surrounding areas.

The arrests have brought relief to farmers and residents who had been living in fear.

The suspects, identified as Juma Wanjala, Samson Kapolon Ewoi, Thomas Esakon Lorongoi, Linus Wekesa Wasilwa, Moses Kisuya Wekesa, and Ezra Simiyu Nyongesa, allegedly formed the core of the gang.

The group controversially adopted the name “Kapenguria Six,” echoing Kenya’s historical nationalist figures, Jomo Kenyatta and his comrades, who were tried in 1952, drawing criticism for linking a revered legacy to criminal activity.

Police also seized a military jungle belt, a beret, and three pangas, highlighting the gang’s potential for violent robbery targeting livestock and household property.

Local leaders condemned the gang for sullying a national historical legacy, while communities in rural Trans Nzoia welcomed the arrests as a step toward restoring safety.

The suspects remain in custody at Endebess Police Station as investigations continue.

The DCI plans to arraign them in court on charges likely to include robbery with violence and participation in organised crime, urging residents to remain vigilant against similar groups.