Four individuals have been arrested following the disruption of an alleged jet fuel theft operation at Wilson Airport, where detectives intercepted a vehicle suspected of ferrying stolen aviation fuel from a restricted maintenance area.
According to investigators from the Kenya Airports Police Unit, the suspects were apprehended after a white Mitsubishi Canter, registration number KBM 647D, was flagged while moving within a controlled section of the airside. The vehicle had reportedly been circulating within airport precincts in a manner that drew the attention of security personnel on duty.
Upon stopping and inspecting the vehicle, officers allegedly discovered four metal drums loaded onto the truck. Each drum was found to contain approximately 200 litres of jet fuel, raising immediate concerns of illegal siphoning and unauthorised transport of petroleum products.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fuel is suspected to have been siphoned from an aircraft undergoing routine maintenance at the NASD hangar. The aircraft is operated by Airworks Aviation, which had temporarily grounded the plane for servicing at the time of the alleged incident.
Detectives further established that the alleged organiser of the operation, Gladys Ndumba Kanairo, did not possess a valid airport gate pass authorising her presence within the restricted area. In addition, the vehicle used to transport the fuel reportedly lacked clearance from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, a mandatory requirement for any movement of petroleum products in the country.
Kanairo was arrested alongside the driver, Timothy Wambugu Maina, and two other suspects identified as Kennedy Njoka Kinuthia and Abdulmalik Musinga. All four are currently being held in custody as detectives complete investigations ahead of possible arraignment in court.
Meanwhile, the vehicle and the recovered fuel have been impounded and secured as exhibits. Authorities say the case remains under active investigation, with further charges expected once forensic and procedural reviews are concluded.
