This archive report was first published on 7 July 2021.
On July 6, a daring robbery took place at the Roysambu roundabout in Nairobi, where a police officer controlling traffic had his phone stolen by robbers on a motorcycle.
The incident was captured on a motorist's dashboard camera, which shows three people on a motorbike approaching the roundabout from the Thika side. One of the pillion passengers quickly grabbed the phone from the officer's right ear, and the robbers sped away.
The officer attempted to chase after the robbers but gave up, realizing they had widened the distance. The video then shows the officer talking to a nearby boda boda rider, appearing confused.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many wondering what the robbers would do to civilians who have no security training or protective equipment like police officers.
Nairobi regional police boss Augustine Nthumbi said he had seen the video but had not received a report from Kasarani about the robbery. He assured residents that the robbers would be arrested soon and urged them to be vigilant while walking in the central business district.
Nthumbi also emphasized the importance of crime prevention through environmental design, where civilians play a crucial role in preventing thefts by being aware of their surroundings and taking necessary precautions.
Despite the existence of Sh14 billion surveillance cameras in Nairobi, daily robberies continue to occur, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has asked residents to report cases of muggings and robberies instead of taking to social media to lament.
