The proverbial forty days of a thief have finally caught up with Nairobi’s, if not Kenya’s, most wanted female gangster.
Lavender Akinyi Ogilo, described by police as dangerous, was arrested on Tuesday, April 3 after detectives from Kilimani Police Station
raided her house in Ruaka, Nairobi.
The arrest ended a three-year cat and mouse game with the police.
The mother of one is being linked to a spate of robberies in posh Nairobi neighbourhoods including Kilimani, Lavington, Muthangari, Kileleshwa, and Hurlingham.
“Lavender has been terrorising the residents of the posh addresses for the past three years and escaping without arrest. She is dangerous and operates with armed gangsters who are still at large,” said Kilimani DCIO Fatuma Ali.
The suspect is believed to be half Kenyan and half Tanzanian and has a hide-out in Sirare town.
According to detectives, Lavender’s gang is said to operate in both East African countries.
A detective is quoted by The Standard: “Lavender ametusumbua sana tangu 2013, anaiba hapa Nairobi hadi Tanzania. Ana bahati sana hajauwawa.”
Loosely translated: “Lavender has troubled us since 2013, she commits crimes in Nairobi and Tanzania. She is very lucky to be alive.”
The gang allegedly uses hired cars to commit crimes especially during weekends and public holidays.
The director of Directorate Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti termed the arrest as a breakthrough in the war against crime.
“The woman is the mastermind of most of the break-ins in the city,” said Kinoti.
Two men and women found in her house were also arrested and are assisting police with investigations.
Kilimani DCIO suspects Lavender is a member of several gangs.
The suspect’s details have been shared across city police stations as detectives hunt for her hiding gang members.
“We believe complaints against Lavender and her gang have been lodged in other stations, we are seeking to collaborate the same,” said Fatuma.
