In what is being described as one of the most sophisticated automotive heists in recent Kenyan history, a Ksh 35 million Lexus was reduced to a mere skeleton in a daring overnight raid in Kiamuthambi village, Kirinyaga Central.
The victim, prominent businesswoman Rose Muriuki, awoke on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, to a sight that has left the local community and security experts in disbelief. Her pristine luxury SUV, parked within a “secure” gated compound, had been surgically dismantled by a gang of over 20 armed individuals.
The Anatomy of a High-Tech Heist
This was no ordinary “smash and grab.” According to police reports and family statements, the gang arrived in two vehicles shortly after midnight. After overpowering and tying up the lone watchman, Anthony Namanda, the criminals deployed a chilling new tactic: chemical warfare.
The suspects allegedly sprayed an unknown sleep-inducing gas into the bedrooms of the main house. This ensured that Ms. Muriuki and her guest remained in a deep, medically-induced stupor while the “mechanical crew” outside went to work.
Surgical Precision
Between midnight and 4:00 AM, the gang systematically stripped the vehicle of its most valuable components, including:
The iconic spindle grille and front fascia.
All four Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires and rims.
The doors, bonnet, and several engine components.
Sophisticated internal electronics and navigation systems.
The precision of the work suggests the thieves were not local amateurs but experts, likely from Nairobi, who knew exactly how to dismantle a high-end Lexus without damaging the lucrative spare parts.
A Community in Shock
“I have owned vehicles for over 40 years, but I have never seen anything like this,” said John Muriuki Kiama, a family member. The victims only regained consciousness at 9:00 AM while in the hospital, hours after the gang had vanished with their haul.
The incident highlights a terrifying evolution in Kenya’s organized crime. As luxury car parts become harder and more expensive to import, syndicates are moving away from carjackings toward “asset stripping” within the perceived safety of private homes.
DCI Investigation
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have visited the scene and collected samples of the gas used. The skeletal remains of the Lexus now stand as a grim monument to the rising sophistication of the underground spare parts economy.
