A woman police claim is the ringleader of a gang carrying out armed robberies in posh Nairobi neighborhoods has been charged.
The woman by the name Lavender Akinyi, 31, appeared in court alongside her four alleged accomplices. Police confirmed that the suspects included other nationalities like Tanzanians.
Ms Akinyi, Wycliffe Nyakundi Orwaru, Shimton Ambasa Khan, Teresa Richard and Rose Richard will be detained for 24 hours as they await more evidence from the prosecution.
Magistrate Francis Andayi intsructed the prosecution to provide validated evidence within that time. The prosecution petitioned to have them detained for 30 days to enable completion of investigations.
An affidavit filed by James Wanjohi, who is attached to Directorate of Criminal Investigations Dagoretti, confirmed that the suspects were captured on CCTV cameras installed at different scenes of crime. He also added that the suspects, who at times threatened their victims with guns, had been on the police radar for more than three years.
The officer said that upon the arrest, several stolen items were recovered including electronic bank documents, two vehicles and mobile phone power banks.
Police said Akinyi was the leader of a criminal gang of two women and three men. The investigation officer added that they were yet to get information on the vehicles believed to have been used by the suspects to commit crimes as he requested for more days.