A senior police officer attached to Drive-In Police Station in Nairobi has walked free after a robbery with violence case against him was withdrawn following an out-of-court settlement between the complainants and the accused.
Inspector Kelvin Mwangi, the Deputy Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Drive-In Police Station, appeared before the Makadara Law Courts alongside Stephen Ombewa Okello over allegations of robbery with violence and involvement in an abduction and extortion ring operating in Nairobi.
The two were accused of committing the offence in Kasarani on June 30, 2026. They denied the charges when they were presented before the court.
However, proceedings took an unexpected turn after the complainants, Kanuti Konrid and his wife, Beatrice Naliaka Njoroge, informed the court that they had reached an out-of-court settlement with the accused.
Following the communication, the court allowed the application and formally withdrew the case against the two suspects.
According to investigators, the couple had travelled to Baba Ndogo to deliver an Apple Smart Watch that had been ordered online when they were allegedly ambushed by three men travelling in a white Toyota Axio.
The attackers reportedly forced the couple into the vehicle, handcuffed them and drove towards Thika Road while demanding KSh1 million for their release.
Konrid managed to withdraw KSh17,000, but the suspects allegedly rejected the amount and drove the couple to an Equity Bank branch in Githurai. His wife remained hostage inside the vehicle while he was sent into the bank to withdraw more money.
While inside the banking hall, Konrid discreetly alerted a bank employee, who immediately contacted officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit.
Police responded to the scene, prompting three suspects to flee on foot while the driver sped off with Njoroge still inside the vehicle. Officers fired warning shots during the operation and arrested Stephen Okello Obewa.
Investigators said Obewa later confessed to participating in the alleged kidnapping, identified the getaway vehicle as his own and claimed that some of his accomplices were serving police officers.
Njoroge was later released unharmed along Kamiti Road.
Police also alleged that during the incident, the couple was robbed of five mobile phones valued at approximately KSh120,000, in addition to the Apple Smart Watch they had gone to deliver. The case has now been withdrawn following the settlement between the parties.
