By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: A gang of eight hijacked a bus that was ferrying passengers home on Monday night and robbed them of their cash and valuables in Lenana Forest, Nairobi.
The bus, which had about 50 passengers, was speeding towards Ngong at about 8 pm when some of them turned out to be thugs.
Police and the victims said the gang had posed as passengers before they struck at a petrol station along Ngong Road.
According to Nairobi County deputy police commander Moses Ombati, the gang took control of the bus and diverted it into a bush in Lenana Forest where they robbed the passengers of their cash and valuables before abandoning them.
“We are talking to a number of people including the bus crew as part of efforts to get the attackers. We want these operators to also take measures that can help in containing the crime,” said Ombati.
He added none was injured in the attack because all those on board heeded the directives of the gang.
They were later driven to Karen police station where they reported the matter and so far a team of police has been formed to hunt the attackers.
This is the latest incident targeting the vehicles in a series that have occurred in Nairobi in the past months.
Police statistics show up to four buses are carjacked weekly and the trend is on the increase.
Some of the matatu operators had last week met at the Central police station in the city and agreed to employ staff who will be screening all passengers boarding their vehicles as part of efforts to address the menace.
Central division police boss Patrick Oduma said they will arrest and prosecute touts who are not in uniforms and who do not support the strategies being put in place.
The operators were also asked not to pick suspicious people on the road termini whenever they carry passengers from and to the city centre.
This was arrived at after it emerged that some of the gangs usually strike whenever a Public Service Vehicle stops at a terminus to drop or pick up passengers and especially at night.
