Inside Sh35m Lexus LX600 stripped to parts by daring Kirinyaga thieves

A gang of more than 20 armed men raided a home in Kiamuthambi village, Kirinyaga Central, and spent hours methodically dismantling a Sh35 million Lexus LX600, leaving behind a stripped shell in one of the boldest rural thefts in recent memory.

The attackers struck shortly after midnight at the home of businesswoman Rose Muriuki.

According to local media reports, the suspects arrived in two vehicles, overpowered the watchman and tied him up before gaining access to the compound.

They reportedly sprayed an unknown substance into a bedroom where Muriuki and a friend were sleeping, rendering them unconscious.

With the occupants incapacitated, the gang is said to have worked uninterrupted until about 4 am, removing key components from the high-end SUV.

The victims later regained consciousness in the hospital and learned the extent of the loss.

The puzzling operation appeared to have been highly coordinated, given the immense technical knowledge required to dismantle such a sophisticated vehicle within record time. 

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have launched a probe, but arrests have yet to be made.

The target, the Lexus LX600, is the flagship full-size luxury SUV from Japanese automaker Lexus and one of the most expensive SUVs on Kenyan roads, going by its current retail price of about Sh35m.

This figure features prominently when we look up the car across multiple Kenyan car dealer websites and social media pages. 

Built on a rugged ladder frame platform, the LX600 blends off-road capability with executive-level comfort, making it popular among business leaders and political elites.

Under the bonnet sits a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing about 409 horsepower and roughly 650 Nm of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time Four Wheel Drive.

The powertrain allows the nearly three-tonne SUV to accelerate briskly while maintaining strong towing capacity and off-road performance through multi-terrain drive modes and adaptive suspension.

While the petrol variant is the most common, the LX range also offers a potent diesel alternative, the LX500d.

Reviewers at Chasing Cars tout the 3.3L twin-turbo diesel V6 variant as a powertrain they describe as a solid choice for those who need to tow larger items such as caravans, but want to do it with a touch more class.

Inside, the LX600 is defined by craftsmanship and technology.

Depending on specification, it offers quilted leather upholstery, open-pore wood trim, ventilated and massaging seats, a 12.3-inch infotainment display paired with a secondary touchscreen, and a premium Mark Levinson audio system.

Higher trims can be configured as four-seat executive lounges with reclining rear captain’s chairs and dedicated climate controls.

Advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, and a head-up display further elevate its appeal.

"On the safety front, the list of inclusions is long, taking in autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that detects cars, cyclists and pedestrians - even those crossing at junctions. There’s also reversing AEB across the range, which we regard as critical in a vehicle of this size and type," writes Tom Baker of Chasing Cars. 

Back in Kirinyaga, investigators will now seek to establish how the gang was able to bypass security measures and systematically strip a vehicle engineered with complex electronics and high-value components, parts that can fetch significant sums on the black market.