- Police handling the matter said they suspect the gunmen had prior information about the movements of the cash.
- They have warned there is an increase in such attacks in the city and want residents not to make such transactions without the involvement of security.
Image: The Star
A messenger of a real estate company was attacked and robbed of Sh604,000 by gunmen who were in police uniforms before being dumped on the roadside in Nairobi’s Spring Valley area.
The messenger who was riding on a motorcycle was rushing with the cash to company offices moments after he had cashed the same at a bank in Diamond Plaza when he was waylaid and robbed.
The rider told police he had been given a cheque to cash at the bank Saturday, November 5.
A company manager wanted to use the money to pay construction workers who had been on duty in the same area.
After cashing the cheque he jumped onto his motorcycle to the company offices.
But he was blocked by a vehicle whose registration numbers were not taken.
Four occupants wearing police uniforms, reflectors and white caps worn by traffic police officers and a civilian ordered him to board it at gunpoint.
The rider told police the gunmen left his motorcycle which had a tracking device at the scene of the attack and drove with him while blindfolded.
They abandoned him along Shanzu Road in the same area after grabbing the cash.
The gunmen then drove off to an unknown destination after the incident.
Police who were alerted moments later said a search did not bear any fruits.
Police handling the matter said they suspect the gunmen had prior information about the movements of the cash.
Police have warned there is an increase in such attacks in the city and want residents not to make such transactions without the involvement of security.
Police say they have registered a high number of violent crimes in the past few days.
On November 3, two people were robbed of more than Sh2.6 million in two separate robbery incidents in Nairobi.
The first victim was an M-Pesa agent who was robbed Sh800,000 along Ojijo Road in Parklands.
The woman was walking on the road at about 4 pm when a motorcyclist and pillion pulled next to her and snatched an envelope she had containing the money.
In a separate incident, one Vanash Brachu told police he was violently carjacked and robbed of Sh1.8 million in Parklands area.
The gunmen forced him into their car and handcuffed him and drove up to the Safari Park where they robbed him of the money and a mobile phone dumped him there.
Police statistics show up to ten violent crimes are reported in major urban areas and the attackers are bold in their missions.
The attacks come in the wake of increased deployment of undercover detectives in the city, as police take steps to destabilise criminal gangs.
Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin said he is committed to dealing with all manners of crimes without favour and in strict conformity with the provisions of the law.
He said they have mobilised resources to address the menace and warned those behind the same their days are numbered.
Meanwhile, two people were electrocuted while vandalising street lights in Thika, Kiambu.
Police and witnesses said the bodies of the two men were found partially burnt following the electrocution at Section Nine area.
The two had earlier tried to vandalise metallic street light posts in the area.
It was then that the posts tumbled on them with live wires, which electrocuted them.
Police said they had to call officials from Kenya Power to disconnect power in the area to enable them to remove the bodies to the mortuary.
Kiambu head of DCI Richard Mwaura said there has been an increase in vandalism in the area which left many in darkness.
He said they are investigating the intended destination of the metallic posts.
“Most of these metals are sold as scraps leaving many without power,” he said.
Police later processed the scene and moved the bodies to General Kago mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem.
Cases of electrocution also happen in offices and private homes.
Kenya Power officials say there has been an increase in cases of electrocution in tandem with increased connectivity across the country.
The officials said poor wiring in customer premises contributed to 24 per cent, illegal connections to 16 per cent, structures and buildings near power lines to 12 per cent and deliberate acts contributed to 11 per cent.
The 10 most affected counties are Nakuru, Nairobi Makueni, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Migori and Kiambu.
Nakuru is currently leading with 11 per cent across the country, followed by Kiambu at 7 per cent.
To address the worrying trend in public electrocution, the agency is carrying out a public sensitization campaign to enhance awareness.
According to data, in 2018/19 there were 149 who were electrocuted, and 100 in 2020.
The power officials cite poor wiring at customer premises as the major concern adding that people use quacks during the construction.
The officials said illegal connections and illegal extensions contribute to 16.3 per cent of electrocution cases and advised the locals to make applications through Kenya Power offices.