Detectives in Kibwezi, Makueni county, have launched an intensive manhunt for a gang of highway robbers operating in the area.
This follows the recovery of 129 bags of rice that had been stolen from a truck on Saturday, December 21.
The incident occurred at the Machinery area in Kambu.
According to police, the truck driver was ambushed by four robbers riding motorcycles.
In his report filed at Makindu police station, the driver said the gang overpowered him, assaulted him then forced him off the truck.
"The gang of four offloaded the 500 bags each weighing 25kg of rice from the truck, thereafter abandoning the empty lorry and sharing the loot amongst themselves," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said.
After stripping the truck of its cargo, the detectives said police the robbers abandoned the vehicle and fled, leaving the driver behind near Makindu.
Following a tip-off, DCI Makindu officers traced one of the suspects to his home.
However, the DCI said upon learning of the police presence, the suspect fled with his wife.
A search by the officers at his homestead led to to the recovery of 129 bags of the stolen rice covered with a black polythene outside the house.
Police say they are now focused on recovering the rest of the stolen goods and arresting the gang members.
The DCI said in a statement that highway robberies have drastically reduced over the years in the country.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations attributed the trend mainly to heightened operations by security officers.
In the past, such attacks were common on major highways.
Police said past incidents have been solved by arresting the masterminds.
Some suspects steal valuables and abandon lorries by the roadside.
Some use spikes to stall the targeted vehicles, mainly transit trucks, before robbing them of their cargo.
Police say the suspects often drug drivers and their turn boys before abandoning them in thickets and making away with with their lorries.