Residents of Kisumu County are breathing a sigh of relief after detectives arrested two suspects linked to a violent robbery and gang rape incident that occurred earlier this month.
The suspects, who had reportedly been terrorizing communities in Yala, Maseno, and Siaya, were connected to a disturbing attack that took place on May 12, 2025.
On the night of the incident, a woman was abducted at the gate of her home in Ongallo village. She had just arrived in a tuk-tuk from a local bar with her cousin when a grey Toyota Axio suddenly pulled up. Armed men dragged the woman into the vehicle while her cousin managed to escape.
Hours later, the woman was found abandoned along Kiboswa Road. She was visibly injured and traumatised, having been gang-raped. Her phone and other personal belongings were also missing.
Determined to bring the perpetrators to justice, detectives from Kisumu West, working with the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau in the Nyanza region, launched an intensive manhunt.
Forensic tracking led the team to Kisumu City Centre, where the suspect vehicle was spotted speeding recklessly from Patel Junction toward Kondele. A dramatic chase followed, ending when the car crashed. Fredrick Oduor Ongori, the driver, was arrested at the scene.
His arrest led officers to the Obunga slums, where they apprehended his alleged accomplice, John Okumu Owidhi, also known as Matools.
Shockingly, both suspects were discovered to be prison escapees and had already been flagged by police.
The two are now in custody as investigations continue to track down a third suspect who remains at large.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has assured the public that justice will prevail and that efforts are ongoing to dismantle the gang responsible for the horrific crime.
