David Mbugua Maramo was driving into Konar House hotel on Menelik road in Kilimani to pick up a customer at 2 am Wednesday. As he waited for the gate to be opened, he was blocked by another car whose registration number he did not have time to take. A man armed with a pistol got out of the car and ordered him to alight before driving off in his car.
The car which had blocked his was also driven away as he watched, shell shocked. His vehicle, a white Toyota Fielder, registration number KBT 574K has not been traced.
A day earlier, Arnold Muhenzi, a 24 year old Ugandan national had been robbed of his Mercedes Benz in Kileleshwa in a similar manner. Mr Muhenzi was driving into Royal Residence Apartments along Rhapta Road at 4 am when he was confronted at the gate of his residence. Another car blocked his and a man armed with a pistol got out and ordered him out of the car. He then drove off, leaving Muhenzi at the scene.
The other car which was used to block his car was also driven away. He was however not injured.
Police have raised alarm over increased number of robberies in the city as we approach Easter holidays. County police commander Benson Kibue is warning that robbers have now devised a way of carjacking -using the “bump-and-rob” method; where they bump the rear of the victim’s car and attack when the motorist stops to check for damage and exchange information.
Another method, commonly referred to as “fender bender”, is where the criminals slam on the brakes too suddenly, causing the motorist behind to hit their car then they attack. According to police records, at least two people have been shot dead and two others seriously injured in separate incidents in the last one week. Motorists have also been robbed of cash and their vehicles, he states.
On Monday morning, Vincent Maina Gikonyo was driving along the Northern bypass from Ruiru when he accidentally rammed a Toyota Probox in front of him. Thinking it was a normal accident, Mr Gikonyo got out of his car only for the two occupants in the damaged car to jump out and point pistols at him. They forced him to the back seat of his car and drove towards Kasarani’s Marurui where he was abandoned after robbing him of Sh2,000. Police are yet to recover his car, a sky blue Toyota Raum.
Last week, Rajab Shibole’s car was hit from behind by another car as he slowed down at a bump nears Roasters, off Thika Superhighway. He stopped and what followed was a series of robberies that led to the fatal shooting of another motorist while another was shot and seriously injured. “I was driving near Roasters club when the vehicle behind hit mine. I stopped the car and got out only for four men armed with an AK-47 rifle and two pistols to confront and bundle me into my car, leaving behind the car they were using,” he recounted.
Mr Shigole told Nairobi News that the thugs drove around the city with him, using his car to block other motorists. One of the victims was blocked but he attempted to drive off. He was shot and lost control of the car, landing in a ditch. Police later found him dead on the driver’s seat. After that mission failed, they proceeded to Kahawa Road where they also blocked another black Pajero. As the driver drove away, he was also shot and is still admitted in hospital.
After being robbed of Sh5000 and mobile phones, Mr Shigole was eventually abandoned near a restaurant in Kahawa West where the gunmen carjacked another car. Other incidents have also been reported in Ngara and Donholm within the week.
Mr Kibue on Thursday advised motorists to be also careful when strangers try to alert them to a problem with their vehicles. “Look around and check out the car in the rear view and side mirrors. Do not stop if you feel it is not safe,” he advised.
Source: Daily Nation
