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A major breakthrough has been recorded in the fight against mobile phone theft after detectives arrested two suspects and recovered more than 900 stolen mobile phones in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
The operation, conducted by officers from Nairobi Central Sub-County, has exposed the operations of an alleged inter-country phone theft syndicate that targets unsuspecting members of the public and mobile phone dealers.
According to investigators, the arrests followed days of intelligence-led surveillance focusing on suspicious movements linked to cross-border smuggling of stolen electronic devices.
Acting on what police described as credible and solid intelligence, detectives moved swiftly to disrupt the syndicate before the consignment could be transported out of the country.
“A team of Detectives from Nairobi Central Sub-County has apprehended two individuals linked to an inter-country phone theft syndicate, recovering a consignment of over 900 stolen mobile phones,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said in a statement.
Interception Along Charles Rubia Street
The detectives orchestrated what they termed a meticulously planned operation along Charles Rubia Street, near the busy Buscar bus stage, an area known for heavy human and vehicle traffic.
It was here that officers intercepted two suspicious packages that were being prepared for onward transportation to Uganda.
“Acting on solid intelligence, the team orchestrated a meticulously planned operation in Nairobi’s bustling Central Business District, along Charles Rubia Street, near the busy Buscar bus stage,” the statement read.
Upon inspection, the packages revealed the scale of the criminal enterprise.
“Upon opening the packages, the officers were greeted by a shocking sight: an assortment of stolen mobile phones, numbering approximately 900,” investigators disclosed.
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Suspects Linked to Larger Syndicate
Preliminary investigations indicate that the two suspects are not lone actors but part of a wider and well-coordinated network.
Police say the syndicate steals phones from innocent members of the public as well as from mobile phone shops before selling them in neighbouring countries.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the two suspects, who were unable to provide a satisfactory account for the mobile phones in their possession, are part of a larger phone theft syndicate,” the DCI noted.
The suspects were identified as Brian Yomasia and Stephen Okwachi Shisia.
“The suspects, Brian Yomasia and Stephen Okwachi Shisia, were nabbed on the spot and, along with the trove of stolen devices, swiftly escorted to the Nairobi Central Police Station,” police said, adding that they are undergoing processing pending arraignment.
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Sustained Crackdown on Phone Theft
The recovery comes barely days after another successful raid conducted on January 24, 2026, in which more than 150 stolen mobile phones were recovered, underscoring the persistence of the crime and the intensity of police operations.
“This significant recovery follows closely on the heels of another successful raid on January 24, 2026, where over 150 stolen mobile phones were recovered,” the statement added.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reiterated its commitment to dismantling mobile phone theft networks through sustained intelligence-led crackdowns across the country and called on the public to cooperate.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) remains committed in the fight against mobile phone theft,” police said, urging citizens to report suspicious activities via the toll-free number 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp 0709 570 000.
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The image shows DCI Headquarters in Kiambu Kenya
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