2 people injured in carjacking incident along Jogoo road, Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya:  A driver and passenger were Saturday night shot and wounded and several passengers robbed of their cash and valuables when a bus they were travelling in was hijacked by thugs along Jogoo Road, Nairobi.

Witnesses and police say the gang first struck as the bus was racing along Jogoo Road towards Umoja and ordered all those who were on board to heed their orders.

They then started to demand cash and other valuables that were being handed over into a paper bag they had.

“They collected any valuables and they were all armed. Those who defied were beaten up and threatened with shooting,” said a witness who survived the attack.

According to police, the gang of five had boarded the bus in town while armed with pistols and posing as passengers before they turned out to be thugs.

On reaching in Umoja area, a confrontation ensued prompting one of the gunmen to shoot the driver in the jaw. The bullet went through and hit a female passenger who was seated next to him injuring her in the abdomen as other passengers screamed for help.

The two were later rushed to Mama Lucy Hospital where they are admitted in a serious but stable condition.

The bus was later abandoned in the area by the gang, which escaped on foot and no arrest has been made so far. Police say the gang escaped with more than Sh100, 000 and other valuables.

Police say they have been pushing matatu operators to screen all passengers who board their vehicles as part of efforts to stop the crime.

“They need to ensure the passengers who board their matatus are not armed. We have posted officers at various bus stops to help in this war,” said an officer aware of the campaigns who asked not to be named.

But the operators have been complaining of increased attacks on their vehicles with little help from authorities.

To mitigate the menace, the operators have constructed permanent barriers between passengers and drivers.