Isaac Wonder Daraja Motochi: Suspected Robber Held for Investigations

A court in Nairobi has remanded a man for four days on suspicion of his involvement in multiple violent robbery incidents occurring in Nairobi and Kiambu counties, pending the completion of investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Isaac Wonder Daraja Motochi appeared before the Milimani senior principal magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi under a miscellaneous application where the officer Investigating the matter sought time to have him in custody for Investigation.

Police Constable Peter Mwangi who is attached to the DCI Operations Support Unit pleaded with the court to have Motochi for seven days to conduct Investigations against him and prefer charges in court.

The respondent is suspected of being part of the syndicate involved in a series of robberies with violence crimes within Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

The officer narrated before the court that on December 1, 2023, Kennedy Kimuhu Gitau a car dealer along Kiambu Road received a call from a car broker Brian Karanja Mbui informing him there was a client interested in buying a motor vehicle which was posted online.

The prospective customer introduced himself as Robert indicated that he was interested in buying a motor vehicle Toyota Prado registration number KBS 775G, which was posted online for sale.

The owner of the vehicle Kennedy Kimuhu Gitau was ready to sell it to anyone willing to offer Sh 2,000,000.

They said Robert was interested in getting involved in a direct transaction with the owner and after communication, the owner was directed to deliver the vehicle to Juja for inspection and a road test drive.

The owner was accompanied by the broker later in the day and delivered the vehicle as agreed.

Upon inspection and road test drive, the buyer was willing to pay, and he requested Kimuhu and the broker to pass by his residence before they proceeded to a restaurant for other transactions.

Upon arrival in the compound, the seller and the broker were ushered into the sitting room where three armed men arrived on a motorcycle held the duo hostage, and ordered them to make calls to their relatives requesting a ransom.

“This happened for three days and on December 4, 2023, the duo were ransacked in the said Prado and drove off towards Nairobi city direction,” Mwangi told the magistrate.

Upon reaching Kahawa Wendani, the vehicle was involved in a self-involved accident and the occupants escaped leaving behind Kennedy and Brian blindfolded.

They were rescued by members of the public who directed them to report the matter for Investigation where they reported at Ruiru police station.

In the process of Investigation at the scene of the accident, police recovered a used cartridge which was fired from a Cesca pistol serial number A700990,

“The said pistol was a civilian firearm licensed to Isaac Wonder Daraja Motochi,” the officer said.

The Investigations indicated that the same pistol was also involved in another matter at Kilimani and Ruai police stations where the Director of Forensics raised a concern because the said pistol was submitted by different stations in various criminal involvement.

PC Mwangi prayed to hold the suspect for seven days to investigate and try to recover the aforementioned pistol.

He also said that they want to subject the mobile phones to cyber forensic examination and acquire the geolocation of the suspects and the victims,

“We want to record statements from various witnesses where many robbery with violence incidences have occurred within Kilimani, Ruai, Juja and Ruiru areas,” Mwangi Pleaded.

The defence lawyer urged the court to dismiss the application citing that the matter was first reported at Juja police station in December last year and the suspect was arrested by the DCI from the said station and he was held for seven days,

“The respondent before this court was arraigned in Thika law courts on December 23, 2023, and charged with failing to secure a firearm. He was fined Sh 15,000 which he paid,” said the defence lawyer.

The lawyer further told the court that the same matter was taken to another police station to harass his client.

State prosecutor Virginia Kariuki denied the claim by the defence citing that “this matter is independent involving different complainants but same firearm.”

In his brief ruling, the magistrate considered the submissions by the prosecution and the defence stating that the matter involves an  offence of robbery with violence which is a very serious offence and needs to be investigated thoroughly,

“The offence is very serious and it need thorough Investigations,” the magistrate said.

He ordered the suspect to be detained at Capitol Hill police station until Tuesday when the matter will be mentioned for directions.