Women, schoolgirl raped in bus robbery

By Willis Oketch

Gun-toting robbers hijacked a bus on the Nairobi- Mombasa highway.

The gangsters armed with AK-47 rifles and pangas robbed the passengers of property and raped women, including a schoolgirl.

The girl and women were treated at Mewa Hospital when they arrived in Mombasa.

Witnesses said the seven robbers struck the bus belonging to Coast Bus at 1.30am near Mtito Andei as it headed to Mombasa from Nairobi.

　

drove to bush

"They took us to the bush where robbery and rape took place," said a passenger.

A victim, Mr Alex Oduor Ndege, said the bus rear and front tyres were punctured and passengers went out to help only to be confronted by the robbers.

Ndege sustained head injuries and lost Sh6,000, an identity card and an ATM card.

A Coast Bus official, who declined to be named, said the schoolgirl was given money to pay her medical bill at a Mombasa hospital. The official also said the company gave the victims Sh500 each.

"The robbers fired in the air and ordered us to enter the bus. The driver was ordered to drive into the bush," Ndege explained.

He suspected the robbers shot at the tyres.

Ndege said insecurity on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway was a threat to passengers and motorists.