DCI Probe Links Former Mwea MP Peter Gitau To Dangerous Car Theft Gang

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have arrested former Mwea MP Peter Gitau on suspicion of being involved in the theft of vehicles, with one of the trucks said to belong to the devolved government of Murang’a.

According to Central Region Criminal Investigations Officer, Abraham Mugambi, Mr Gitau was arrested on Friday alongside three others.

This is the second time the men have been apprehended. They were first picked up two weeks earlier and arraigned for another charge of vehicle theft.

Dr Mugambi said officers from the Operation Support Unit recovered two lorries that had been reported stolen.

“The vehicles were stolen in Gatanga on August 16, 2025,” he said, adding that investigations were launched immediately and intelligence involving the Crime Research Bureau led to the arrest of five people.

Those arrested were identified as Peter Gitau, Mark Kinyua, Erick Chege, David Kigo and Joseph Ndung’u Waweru.

In the earlier case, Senior Resident Magistrate Eric Analo granted the accused a cash bail of Sh500,000 or an alternative bond of Sh1 million with surety of a similar amount.

The magistrate overruled a request by the DCI to hold the accused for 21 more days, pending completion of investigations.

He said continued detention without formal charges would violate the men’s constitutional rights.

Extended detention

The DCI, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, had argued that more time was needed to conclude investigations into the theft of a vehicle in Murang’a on November 4, 2025.

The men were taken into custody on January 14, 2026, but Mr Gitau’s defence team, led by Mr Robert Ndumbi, protested that he had been held for more than four days without formal charges or a court order authorising extended detention.

The lawyer said the Constitution prohibits holding a suspect without being presented in court for more than 24 hours.

They were at DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road before being transferred to Murang’a.

The magistrate observed that the matter before him was only a miscellaneous application for extended detention, not a substantive criminal case.

He directed police to conclude investigations and prefer charges against the men once ready.

Dr Mugambi said it was in pursuit of completing the investigations that the men were re-arrested, this time in connection with the theft of two additional vehicles. It brought the number of recovered vehicles to three.

The re-arrest, he said, led to interrogations during which the men provided important information that led to the recovery of the trucks.

“They led us to Mombasa, where police officers found the lorries in Makupa,” he said.

Dr Mugambi added that the lorries had fake number plates.

“With the lorries having been found and safely in the custody of  police, we are planning to return them to their owners,” Dr Mugambi said.

Following the arrests, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata confirmed that one of the lorries belongs to the devolved government.

“The truck was meant for garbage collection. Thanks to police for helping us find it,” he posted on social media.

Restoration of justice

County Environment Chief Executive, Mary Magochi, also welcomed the development.

“We had reported the matter to police and are happy to hear arrests have been made and the lorry recovered,” she said.

Dr Mugambi said the recovery is a step in restoring justice to those affected.

“Restoring hope and justice to the owners of the vehicles is underway. We will also ensure those arrested face the full force of the law,” he said.

Mr Gitau was first elected Mwea MP in 2007 on a Party of National Unity ticket.

He was re-elected in 2013 on The National Alliance party ticket before losing the seat to Mr Alfred Nderitu five years later.