Kitale: Traders raise alarm over rising robberies, with thugs masquerading as customers

In the latest incident, traders with stalls at Lions area within Kitale town said a group of thugs targeted their businesses. 

One trader, who identified herself as Nafula, narrated to Wananchi Reporting how a thug, masquerading as a potential customer, targeted her shop.

"It was about 8pm and I was almost closing my shop when a man came in. He was wearing a mask and approached me and before I knew it, he drew a gun and ordered me to lie on the ground and surrender all the money I had made for the day," she said.

Nafula says the thug proceeded to order her to surrender her phone and as she took longer than the thug wanted to do so, he shot in the air.

"It's a small shop and it's a wonder how I dodged the bullet," she said, as she showed the reporter the area where the bullet landed. 

Nafula proceeded to say that she gathered courage to pounce on the thug.

"I don't know where the strength came from, but I jumped on him, hit him in the stomach, but he did not let go of the gun, but it appears he only had one bullet," she said.

All the while, Nafula said residents in the area did not respond to her distress calls as she screams for help.

"Who will come to your rescue after hearing gun shots?" she said.

The thug managed to escape after the exchange, but Nafula says she is living in fear that he may resurface, adding that the police need to beef up security in the area. 

Trans Nzoia police commander, Nelson Kaditi, said the authorities are stepping up efforts to hunt down criminals, adding that Nafula is cooperating with officers in a bid to track down the culprit.