by Cyrus Ombati

An Administration Policeman and a driver stole Sh22 million in yet another heist that involved cash in transit.

The latest robbery means Sh56 million has apparently been stolen by policemen and guards since September.

In the incident on Friday, the AP and a G4S security van driver escaped with the $300,000 at 1pm. The cash had been loaded onto the van destined for Wilson Airport en route to Juba, Southern Sudan. G4S denied earlier reports that Sh40 million was stolen.

This incident comes about two months after a similar one in September in which a group of APs and G4S staff seized the Sh34 million they were loading onto ATMs at Yaya Centre in Nairobi. Six police officers and some of the G4S staff have since been charged with, among other offences, robbery with violence.

G4S is the country’s biggest security firm. Photo: File/Standard

Police and witnesses said the van had driven to the CFC/Stanbic Bank Waiyaki Way, and loaded the money onto a Canter.

A car with two armed police officers was escorting the van, which had a driver, a commander from G4S, and the armed officer.

After the money was loaded onto the van at the security room, the vehicle sped off leaving behind the escort car. The driver of the escort saloon car tried to start it in vain, only to discover he had the wrong key. The key had apparently been exchanged.

The cash van sped towards Museum Hill and stopped at the nearby Parklands roundabout. The driver then asked his colleague from G4S to alight and adjust the side mirror. The driver sped off as soon as he stepped out.

This left the G4S driver and the AP in the van with the Sh22 million in US dollars. The two are believed to have driven to a destination where they transferred the money into a different car.

They then drove the van to Chemilil Road in the Ngara area, outside the city centre, where they abandoned it outside a hostel.

A guard at a nearby house said he saw a policeman remove a sim card from his mobile phone, which he destroyed. "He then asked where he could get a taxi. We gave him directions … but he did not follow them," said the guard.

It is the commander who had been abandoned at the Parklands Roundabout who called head office to report the incident.

Police were immediately alerted of the incident, and started the hunt for the van, which they found an hour later.

The two APs, the commander, and driver of the escort car were then arrested for questioning.

Head of Flying Squad Julius Sunkuli said they were looking for the G4S driver.

G4S communications officer Betty Koech said the incident had not affected their operations, although it comes two months after a similar incident in which Sh34 million was stolen.

The rising theft of cash-on-transit has insurance companies worried. Some are contemplating raising premiums to cover the losses.

The Regional Director of African Reinsurance Corporation George Otieno said the frequency of heists was alarming. He suggested an increase in the number of vehicles escorting cash in transit vans.

In a telephone interview, Otieno said although some of the insurance cover are midway through the year, there may be need to review the premiums when they expire.

"Insurance companies may be forced to re-look at the conditions attached to covers related to such theft," said Otieno.

Interestingly, a policeman of the rank of sergeant surrendered himself at the Security of Government Building offices along Mbagathi Road, three hours after the heist.

He told his commanders he wanted to return his G-3 rifle and hand himself in. He was immediately arrested, and later picked up by a team of CID officers who are investigating the case. It was not immediately known whether he was party to the heist.