Nairobi PPO Mr Benson Kibue. PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD

The police have sensationally claimed that there are no carjackings in the city and challenged Nairobians to prove them wrong by coming forward with any evidence of reported cases in the recent past.

Over the last three months, no carjacking has been reported, the Nairobi County Police Commander, Benson Kibue (pictured) has told The Nairobian.

He says that if at all there were such cases, then the victims ‘might have failed to officially notify my officers’.

“There is no carjacking in Nairobi, kwani you are living in Lagos (in Nigerian) Maybe somebody was carjacked but never reported to police,” the police boss said.

Kibue said previous carjackings that targeted PSVs had been ‘eradicated’ after criminals were either arrested or shot dead. Ngong Road, Jogoo Road and Thika Highway are known to be notorious hijack spots.

Last year, Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC) identified Makadara as a carjacking hotspot. Areas prone to the crime included Jericho, Jericho sports ground, Kiambiu, Katulo Road, Mutindwa, Shepherds and Uhuru junction.

Others were Makongeni/Likoni Road Bridge, Mukuru Fauta Bridge, Mesora Mukuru kwa Reuben, Harambee, Stage Two, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Muhindi Mweusi Supermarket, and the bridge linking South B and South C.

SRIC is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which carries out research on human security in Kenya, the Great Lakes Region and the greater Horn of Africa.

While carrying out its research, SRIC classified the city into five regions, namely, Lang’ata, Dagoretti, Kamukunji, Embakasi and Makadara.

Kibue said after the release of the report, police sustained their war against a ring of criminals that was involved in most carjackings.

“We finished the crimes (carjacking) a long time ago. Our officers are doing a good job of apprehending the criminals, which sometimes lead to a number of them being shot dead,” said the police boss.

The Flying Squad is the unit responsible for serious crimes like carjacking and armed robberies. It is headed by Nyale Munga, who declined to comment and instead referred us to his boss, Kibue.