Three More Suspects Arrested in Chaiiwali Restaurant Robbery as DCI Recovers Two Pistols
News Updated: 21 July 2026 13:40 EAT
Photo courtesy: Scenes when CCTV captured men holding pistols at the Chaiiwali restaurant
Three more suspects have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery at Chaiiwali Restaurant in Nairobi's Westlands area, as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intensified efforts to dismantle the gang behind the July 4 attack. The suspects were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation in Githurai, Kiambu County, where police also recovered two pistols and ammunition believed to have been used in a string of violent robberies.
The DCI said the suspects were tracked to a sixth-floor apartment in the Mwiki area of Githurai after investigators received credible intelligence on their whereabouts. As detectives moved in to make the arrests, the suspects allegedly attempted to escape by climbing down the rear side of the building. Members of the public raised an alarm, prompting officers to fire warning shots before successfully apprehending the trio.
Police identified the suspects as Edison Mukama, alias Musa Abdul, a 22-year-old Rwandan national, Adens Kikanga, 25, and John Njuguna Githinji, 25. Investigators believe the three are members of the criminal gang responsible for the robbery that was captured on CCTV cameras and widely shared on social media.
According to the DCI, a female suspect who was in the apartment during the operation managed to escape before officers secured the scene. Detectives have since launched a manhunt to trace and arrest her as investigations continue.
Following the arrests, the suspects led detectives to another house in the Manguo area of Githurai Kimbo, where officers recovered a Mini Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of 9mm ammunition and a Retay Falcon pistol loaded with five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Police believe the firearms may have been used in several armed robberies across Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
The recovered weapons have been submitted to the National Police Service Forensic Laboratory for ballistic analysis to establish whether they were used in other reported crimes. Detectives are also examining additional exhibits recovered during the operation to strengthen the ongoing investigations.
The arrests are linked to the robbery at Chaiiwali Restaurant on July 4, when armed men stormed the popular eatery, ordered customers to surrender their valuables and robbed them of mobile phones, cash and other personal belongings. The attackers reportedly fired shots into the air before fleeing on motorcycles, leaving diners and staff shaken but without reported fatalities.
The robbery lasted less than a minute but attracted widespread public attention after CCTV footage showing the armed gang carrying out the attack circulated online. The footage provided detectives with crucial leads that helped identify suspects and trace their movements.
The latest breakthrough comes days after detectives fatally shot another suspect, Vincent Ochieng, during an operation in Joska, Machakos County. Police said the suspect opened fire on officers after they surrounded a house where he was hiding, forcing detectives to return fire.
During the Joska operation, investigators recovered a Beretta pistol, ammunition, spent cartridges and three mobile phones. Ballistic examinations later established that the firearm had been licensed to Court of Appeal Judge Aggrey Muchelule, prompting a separate investigation into how the weapon ended up in the hands of the suspected robber.
Police said Justice Muchelule informed investigators that he rarely carried the firearm and only realised it was missing after detectives contacted him following the recovery. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the licensed weapon.
The DCI believes the suspects arrested in Githurai, together with the slain suspect and the female suspect still at large, are part of a wider criminal network involved in violent robberies targeting businesses and members of the public in Nairobi and its surrounding counties.
The three suspects remain in police custody pending their arraignment in court, while detectives continue pursuing other members of the gang. The DCI says investigations remain active as forensic experts analyse the recovered firearms and other evidence to establish links with additional robbery incidents reported across the region.
Tags: Dci DCI Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice Robbers Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD