Police have initiated a manhunt for 10 individuals accused of a brazen robbery and gang rape incident that shocked residents in Nyamira County.
In a statement released by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, it was revealed that a female Member of County Assembly (MCA) and a Nyamira County minister were among the victims.
The gang also targeted a school principal and a police officer during the incident, which occurred on October 23.
According to the DCI’s report, the gang took control of a homestead for nearly seven hours. They subdued the victims through physical violence and death threats.
The gang, armed with a pistol, machetes, and other crude weapons, sexually assaulted three women in succession before making off with their loot. The ordeal lasted from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. on that fateful night.
Upon receiving the information, all security agencies in the county were mobilized, and investigations commenced on October 24.
The victims received medical attention at various hospitals in the county, and samples were collected from those who had been sexually assaulted.
The gang also stole various mobile phones and over Ksh130,000 in cash. They confiscated an unknown number of ATM cards and withdrew money from bank accounts, although the exact amount remains undisclosed.
The police believe the sum withdrawn is in the region of hundreds of thousands. The investigating team, aided by crime research detectives and crime scene support teams, processed the scene for crucial leads. They were able to locate a suspected ringleader at the scene and subsequently tracked him down in Kondele, Kisumu County, according to the DCI.