Police on Wednesday arrested two men believed to be part of a syndicate that illegally siphons fuel from the Kenya Pipeline Company's mainline in Mlolongo.
Confirming the arrest, Athi River Sub-County Police Commander Samuel Mukuusi told journalists that the suspects were nabbed committing the crime just a few minutes after midnight.
Mukuusi said police from the Mlolongo Police Station were able to arrest two suspects but one managed to escape.
He said the trio had managed to siphon about 5,000 litres of fuel into a tanker with registration number KXG 960 by the time they were apprehended by police.
The police boss disclosed that the officers were acting on a tip-off from members of the public.
He said the residents reported that there were strange activities going on near a tanker marked 'clean water'.
Mukuusi noted that the police have launched a manhunt for the suspect who got away.
Also, investigations to unearth the entire web of criminals engaging in the illegal business have begun.
"We have launched investigations to unearth the entire web of criminals behind the illegal business," said Mukuusi as quoted by the Nation.
The two suspects will be arraigned in court on Thursday.