Commuters on a Double M minibus traveling from Eastlands were robbed at gunpoint on Jogoo Road during a morning traffic jam.
A similar incident had occurred previously under the same circumstances, during heavy traffic.
According to a victim who spoke to Nairobi News, the robbery happened at 6am when six smartly dressed men, posing as passengers, drew guns and demanded that other passengers hand over their phones and money.
The victim had boarded the minibus at Bee Centre near Donholm. He noted that when they reached the Donholm stage, the conductor instructed the driver to leave with a half-filled bus, citing the presence of traffic police in the area.
The six men had boarded at Donholm, spreading themselves throughout the bus. Shortly after, the conductor exited the bus, and the men simultaneously stood up, ordering commuters to surrender their belongings.
- One of the men, seated near the door, threatened to shoot anyone who refused to comply.
- The other men ransacked the bus, collecting phones and wallets from the commuters.
The robbers took their time, examining wallets and purses, and discarding empty ones while keeping others. This occurred as the bus moved slowly through the morning traffic, without arousing suspicion from other drivers.
A commuter attempted to hide his phone by dropping it on the floor, but was punched in the jaw by one of the robbers when it was discovered.
At one point, the conductor of another bus approached to ask for loose change but was instead robbed and ordered to sit down, being told his vehicle would be next.
The robbers, along with the other conductor, exited the bus near Makongeni police station at around 6:20am, mocking their victims and instructing them to report the incident to the police.
The driver then went to the Makongeni police station to report the robbery. The conductor of the bus was absent throughout the incident.
Upon arriving at Kencom bus terminal, a commuter noticed the driver had not informed the bus company officials about the incident. It was only after being questioned that the driver recounted what had happened.
