KISUMU — Eight police officers have been arrested in western Kenya after a Toyota Land Cruiser went missing from the Maseno police station yard.
The officers, all attached to the station, were detained on Monday evening and are being held at Kisumu Central police station. Detectives from Nairobi carried out the arrests as part of an inquiry into the vehicle’s disappearance.
According to an internal police report, the Land Cruiser had first been recovered earlier this month after it was found abandoned at Maseno shopping centre on 10 September. It was later parked at the station yard but went missing soon after.
The eight officers are accused of playing a role in the theft. They include constables Shaban Omar, Stanley Kosgei, Fredrick Lubatse, Harrison Muchiri, Charles Mutahi, Jackson Lugadili, Elphas Sigoi and Isaac Kipgeno.
Officials say the officers remain in custody while investigators build their case. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has yet to confirm the exact charges, but sources indicated further questioning is under way.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about accountability within the police service. Critics argue that cases of alleged misconduct among officers undermine public confidence in law enforcement, particularly in rural towns where stations are central to community safety.
Police authorities have not commented publicly on the arrests. However, one senior officer familiar with the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the case “will be handled firmly” and that disciplinary measures could follow.
For now, the missing Land Cruiser remains unaccounted for, and the fate of the detained officers will hinge on the outcome of the probe.
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