CCTV captures armed gang stealing Ksh.500K from Kikuyu liquor store

Seven people along Muhuri Road in Kikuyu Constituency were last Tuesday left nursing injuries after a gang of six men attacked a liquor store, assaulted them before stealing goods worth over Ksh.500,000.

The attackers kidnapped one of the victims who was later rescued by detectives from Kikuyu Police Station in Juja where he had been dumped.

January 27 at a liquor store along Muhuri Road, CCTV captured a man pretending to be a customer knocking on the door of the closed shop. He appeared uneasy. A customer close to the door opened it and he ordered his favourite drink.

But even before being served, he signalled his fellow gang members who struck with speed. They forced their way inside and ordered everyone to lie down. One of the gangsters held a pistol ready to fire at anyone who defied their orders.

For eight minutes, the six criminals took over the shop. They first tied their victims, then embarked on stealing all valuables on site, including phones, cash, expensive alcohol and a laptop. All this while, one of them kept watch at the door.

At one point, a customer oblivious that a robbery was underway was lured in after inquiring whether she could purchase a drink.

Once inside, the gang took her phone and directed her to lie down. A friend who was waiting outside became curious when she overstayed and followed to check on her, only for the robbers to pounce on him and force him to join the other victims.

"Kulikuwa na simu mbili hapo ndani, kulikuwa na simu zingine mbili za marafiki zangu wenye walikuwa hapa. Wakaiba laptop, jewellery kwa mkono, saa, bracelets alafu kuna customer walikuja pia wakaingia wakaibiwa simu zao mbili," said one of the victims.

Satisfied with the results of their operation, the gang kidnapped one of the victims whose hands remained tied behind his back. Inside one of their vehicles, the group tortured him while demanding more money.

"Niki resist walinichoma na cigarette lighter ile ya gari mpaka nikawapea pin. Walichukua simu yangu wakapitia contact list wanawaambia wanahitaji Ksh.100,000 ama waniue," the victim recounted.

An ordeal he endured for close to three hours before his friends who had been left tied at the liquor store alerted police from Kikuyu Police Station. Officers began tracking his phone and later rescued him in Juja where he had been dumped.

"Nina hofu sana. Inabidi tufunge mapema kabla giza iingie kwa sababu hao watu wamekuwa wengi na wana terrorize na tunahofu zaidi," said another victim.

The victims lost goods worth over Ksh.500,000. Detectives in Kikuyu are investigating the case, with reports indicating the gang has been on a rampage in Kiambu County, terrorizing residents and business people.

This case adds to at least four other robbery with violence incidents reported in different areas over the last three weeks. The attacks come against a backdrop of growing concern over the rise of criminal gangs in the country.

A report by the National Crime Research Centre on the proliferation of criminal gangs in Kenya mapped 309 criminal gangs in 11 counties. Mombasa leads with 73 criminal gangs, followed by Nairobi with 56 and Kilifi with 47.