Detectives in Kirinyaga East Sub-County have arrested a prime suspect linked to the kidnapping of Gatuto Primary School Headteacher, Joshua Kerai, which took place at Kagumo, Kirinyaga County, on November 4, 2025.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect, identified as Patrick Gacoki Muembe, and two other accomplices who remain at large, allegedly “pounced on the unsuspecting teacher before bundling him into a maroon Toyota Ractis with registration number KCP 816F.”

They then subjected the victim to a harrowing ordeal as they drove him around in circles.

The victim was later discovered abandoned and in distress in the same vehicle at the Sahara Petrol Station in Kutus Town.

DCI said he was taken by a good Samaritan who rushed him to Kerugoya Catholic Hospital, where he was examined.

“The victim was later found abandoned and in distress inside the same vehicle at the Sahara Petrol Station in Kutus Town. He was rescued by a good Samaritan who rushed him to Kerugoya Catholic Hospital, where he received medical attention,” DCI said.

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Suspect Arrested

Following the chilling incident, detectives embarked on a manhunt, which included searching through forensic evidence and intelligence leads, which led them to the hideout of Muembe in Kutus.

The DCI said the suspect was “smoked out after a few days of intense tracking.”

Investigations has also established that Muembe is a serial criminal and is associated with several major crimes, such as motor vehicle theft, theft of stocks, robberies, and burglaries across the region

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The suspect is already under police custody, with the investigators still hunting down his two accomplices, who remain at large.

“Investigations have since revealed that Muembe is a serial offender, linked to a string of serious crimes, including motor vehicle theft, stock theft, robberies, and shop break-ins across the region. The suspect is currently cooling his heels in police custody as detectives pursue additional leads to trail and apprehend his two accomplices, who remain on the run,” DCI said.

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