Nairobi, Kenya – July 11, 2025
In a major breakthrough against electronics theft in Nairobi, police officers from Utalii Police Station have recovered 72 stolen mobile phones and a host of other electronic items during a targeted operation in Mathare. The raid, carried out on Thursday, July 10, led to the arrest of a suspect believed to be a key figure in the stolen electronics trade.
According to law enforcement officials, the operation was informed by intelligence shared by members of the public, highlighting the importance of community-police cooperation. Officers raided the suspect’s residence-cum-electronics repair workshop, where they discovered a variety of gadgets suspected to have been stolen.
Among the recovered items were:
- 72 mobile phones
- 2 laptops
- 1 Universal Flashing Interface (UFI)
- 1 Pandora device (used for phone unlocking)
- 1 camera
- 2 external hard drives
- 1 computer processing unit (CPU)
Police confirmed that 32 of the recovered mobile phones have already been positively identified as belonging to clients of M-KOPA, a mobile asset financing company. The remaining items are currently being held as exhibits, and efforts are ongoing to trace their rightful owners.
“This arrest and recovery would not have been possible without the support of the community,” the National Police Service (NPS) said in a statement. “We commend members of the public for their vigilance and cooperation in this matter.”
The suspect, who allegedly ran the repair shop as a front for stolen electronics operations, is now in custody and is expected to be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.
Authorities are urging members of the public who may have lost mobile devices or other electronics in recent months to visit Utalii Police Station for possible identification of their property.
This latest bust shines a spotlight on the growing black market for stolen electronics and the critical role that community policing can play in disrupting such networks. The police have emphasized their commitment to sustained crackdowns and encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities without fear.
“We encourage Kenyans to keep sharing timely information with the police,” the NPS urged. “Community policing remains a critical pillar in ensuring safety and justice for all.”
The suspect is being held as investigations continue. The police have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests as they probe the wider network possibly linked to the stolen items.
