Police have successfully tracked down and recovered a luxury Mercedes-Benz GLE350d Coupe that had been stolen from a car dealership in Westlands, Nairobi, after a dramatic operation that included a high-speed chase near the Kenya-Tanzania border.
The recovery followed several days of investigations after the vehicle disappeared from a dealership yard along Tausi Road on the night of Saturday, January 31.
The dealership quickly alerted the public through social media, explaining that the vehicle had only recently been imported and had not yet been registered.
This made it highly vulnerable to illegal resale or export since it could be moved quickly without proper records. At the time of the theft, there were fears that the suspects had already fitted the car with fake number plates to avoid being detected by police or traffic systems.
Because the vehicle was still in pristine condition, the dealership expressed concern that it would be easy for criminals to sell it or move it out of the country before authorities could respond.
The public appeal attracted wide attention online and helped raise awareness about the missing luxury car. Soon after, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations launched an intensive operation, gathering intelligence from multiple sources and following several leads.
Detectives eventually traced the vehicle as it moved south from Nairobi. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, officers located it in Imbirikani in Kajiado County, an area known for cross-border smuggling activities due to its proximity to the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Authorities believe the suspects were planning to cross into a neighbouring country, which would have made recovery and arrests more complicated.
Before officers could intercept the suspects, a high-speed chase broke out as the occupants attempted to escape. The pursuit ended when police managed to block and seize the vehicle.
The dealership later confirmed that the Mercedes-Benz had been recovered safely. By the time it was found, the car had already been fitted with registration plates, making it appear legitimately registered and harder to detect during routine checks.
Investigations are still ongoing as authorities try to determine whether the theft was carried out by individuals acting alone or by a larger criminal network involved in cross-border vehicle smuggling.
Detectives are also examining how the suspects gained access to the dealership yard and whether any internal information may have been used during the theft.
Car theft continues to be a major concern across Kenya, with thousands of vehicles reported stolen every month.
Experts say that while some cases appear random, certain vehicles are more likely to be targeted due to demand, resale value, and ease of resale in local and regional markets.
According to the Association of Kenya Insurers, Toyota remains the most frequently stolen brand, accounting for 54.9 per cent of reported thefts.
Other commonly targeted brands include Isuzu at 12.88 per cent, Mazda at 7.06 per cent, Nissan at 5.83 per cent, and Mitsubishi at 3.99 per cent.
Authorities are urging car owners and dealerships to remain vigilant as investigations into the recovered Mercedes-Benz continue.
