Directorate of Criminal Investigations Denies Inaction Following Armed Suspect Apprehensions in Vihiga Ambush

The DCI refutes online claims of laxity, confirming the arrest and arraignment of suspects caught with a firearm and other weapons in Vihiga.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 11:12 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Detectives Counter Narratives of Law Enforcement Negligence

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has issued a formal rebuttal against social media claims suggesting the agency has failed to act against suspected criminals. In a statement released on Tuesday, the department clarified that multiple suspects recently arrested with lethal weapons have already been presented before the judicial system. This response follows a period of digital scrutiny where critics questioned the speed and transparency of police operations. The agency maintained that its investigations are strictly guided by legal frameworks and that any allegations of collusion or deliberate delays are entirely unsupported by the facts of the cases.

High Speed Interception on the Kisumu-Busia Highway

The core of the recent enforcement action involved a strategic ambush conducted by detectives in Vihiga County. Acting on a credible intelligence tip, authorities intercepted a black Toyota Prado traveling along the Kisumu-Busia Highway. During the operation, police arrested Evans Otieno Ongere and Abel Onyango Owuor. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a Phantom pistol, a machete housed in a black sheath, and three mobile phones suspected to be used in coordinating criminal activities. The vehicle was impounded and taken to Maseno Police Station for processing alongside the recovered contraband.

Judicial Ruling Mandates Extended Detention for Analysis

On Tuesday, Ongere and Owuor appeared before the Principal Magistrate’s Court in Vihiga. During the proceedings, detectives successfully applied for a 14 day custodial order to facilitate a deeper probe into the origins and intended use of the seized items. The court heard that the recovered firearm has been forwarded to the National Forensic Lab for comprehensive ballistic analysis. This extension is intended to allow investigators to determine if the weapon is linked to other unsolved crimes in the region before the suspects enter a formal plea.