Police on Sunday night arrested a suspect believed to be part of a gang of car thieves who deceived and robbed Mombasa based taxi driver Victoria Mumbua, who went missing last week.
Mumbua who had been missing after a carjacking incident was on Monday found injured and unconscious in Migori County.
Mumbua disappeared after accepting a business proposition from a group of people who wanted transport from Diani to Samburu.
The arrangement was that she would drive them around Samburu before returning to Diani.
The journey began on September 25, 2024, but since then Mumbua’s whereabouts had remained unknown, causing growing concern among her colleagues and family.
Concern grew when her phone went silent following the ride, prompting her family and friends to raise the alarm. Her ordeal was shared on social media, prompting a country-wide search for the missing woman and her car.
As the investigation unfolded, police received information indicating the taxi had been spotted in Kondele, Kisumu County. However, the car was later found in Nakuru, still bearing its original plates and in the possession of a young man.
The suspect, Edwin Ngetich Kipkemoi, was at the time of his arrest found driving the vehicle with registration number KDQ 182F, belonging to the missing woman.
According to police reports, Mr Kipkemoi was heading towards Western Kenya when he was apprehended by detectives following an online alert about the stolen vehicle.
Police believe that the man in custody is the same one who had requested the taxi services on September 25.
Police later discovered Mumbua unconscious but alive in Migori, where she was promptly taken for medical treatment.
“Missing driver Victoria Mumbua found injured, unconscious in Migori, to be airlifted to Mombasa for treatment,” Police spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed on Monday.
The family had reported Mumbua’s disappearance to Makupa police station in Diani, where it was initially filed as a missing person’s case.
According to the police, a tracker installed in her vehicle last indicated her location in Kisumu before the signal was lost.
This prompted a massive search and a social media campaign by fellow drivers in Diani, which quickly attracted public attention and the interest of the police.
The investigation took a significant turn when Mumbua’s vehicle was spotted in Nakuru on Sunday, still with its original number plates.
This led to the arrest of a male suspect who was taken in for questioning. However, Mumbua was not with the suspect at the time of his arrest and her whereabouts remained unknown.
Incidents of carjackings and robberies targeting taxi drivers have been on the rise, prompting calls for increased security measures.
The Kenya Taxi Drivers Association has called on the government to introduce stricter regulations and provide more support to ensure the safety of drivers, especially those who work late or in remote areas.
