A sharp increase in armed robberies across Nairobi has heightened security concerns, with residents and business owners reporting a growing number of violent attacks in several parts of the Kenyan capital.
The latest wave of robberies has targeted motorists, pedestrians, businesses, and residential neighborhoods, with some attacks resulting in injuries and the theft of cash, mobile phones, and vehicles.
Security experts say the trend has been driven by increasingly organized criminal gangs exploiting densely populated urban areas and periods of reduced police visibility.
The incidents, many of which occur in broad daylight, have fueled fears over public safety and renewed calls for stronger law enforcement.
Kenyan detectives have arrested several suspects linked to a string of armed robberies across Nairobi and neighboring counties, as security agencies intensify operations against organized criminal gangs responsible for a recent surge in violent attacks.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said officers from its Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and the Operation Action Team (OAT) arrested three suspects believed to be behind a series of robberies in Nairobi and its surrounding areas.
In a separate operation in Kisumu, detectives also arrested an alleged serial robbery suspect and recovered a G3 assault rifle believed to have been used in multiple robberies across Kisumu and Kakamega counties.
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be arraigned in court.
Investigators say the suspects are linked to several violent daylight robberies captured on CCTV.
One video shows armed men storming a hair salon in Ruaka, terrifying customers and staff before robbing them, while another footage recorded in Parklands, Nairobi, shows gunmen forcing their way into a restaurant, demanding mobile phones and valuables before pistol-whipping customers who appeared to resist.
The arrests come as Nairobi experiences a rise in armed robberies that have left residents increasingly concerned about public safety.
Police say investigations are continuing to identify additional gang members and dismantle the wider criminal networks behind the attacks.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and continue sharing information that could assist ongoing investigations.
Kenyan authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to restoring public safety, saying additional security deployments, intelligence-led operations, and coordinated crackdowns will continue until those responsible are brought to justice.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed police commanders to intensify operations against organized criminal gangs, increase patrols in urban crime hotspots, and strengthen intelligence gathering to dismantle robbery networks operating in Nairobi and other major towns.
He has also called for closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local communities, emphasizing that public intelligence remains critical in preventing violent crime.
The rise in armed robberies has renewed concerns over urban insecurity, prompting the government to expand surveillance, deploy specialized police units to high-risk areas, and accelerate investigations into repeat offenders.
Authorities say the latest measures form part of a broader strategy to curb violent crime, restore public confidence in the security sector, and improve safety across Kenya’s major cities.