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By Hudson Gumbihi
A gang of deft pickpockets that was recently caught on camera stealing from city matatu passengers continues to carry out its criminal activities with ease, The Nairobian can reveal. Their latest major foray was during the performance by Tanzanian musician Diamond at KICC, where they stole numerous expensive phones and wallets from concertgoers. The gangs usually refer to such events as shamba (farmland)
Citizen TV and K24 recently featured the well coordinated pickpockets, known in Sheng as pinji, who have brought nothing but grief to commuters in public transport vehicles.
In a shocking revelation, Starehe Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) Ndumba Thangalani later identified two of the suspects as serving police officers. The law enforcers alleged to be part of the notorious pickpocket gangs were named as Kennedy Ochieng Arose and William Masana.
This week Thangalani told The Nairobian: “They were taken to court and interdicted pending the outcome of the legal process.”
But even as police continue to investigate the pickpocket gangs, The Nairobian can this week authoritatively reveal that part of the suspected sticky fingers caught on camera have travelled to Mombasa. In a show of incredible brazenness, the specific gang, mostly from Umoja Estate, is targeting to ‘harvest’ from the Driftwood Rugby Sevens tournament on the weekend of August 24-25. Hundreds of Nairobians are expected to attend the event, providing fertile ground for the pickpockets.
The gang members are usually dressed in smart casual outfits complete with baseball caps. They invariably carry rucksacks to hide the stolen items.
It is said the criminals, buoyed by the thousands of shillings they make from their criminal enterprise everyday, are untouchable since they pay protection money to the police.
It is also suspected that some use witchcraft to numb the senses of their victims.
The gangs are said to be so organised that they have a chama, where they make regular contributions. The ‘slush fund’ is usually used by members to bribe their way out when arrested and to pay ‘protection fees to the police. In their chain there are also brokers, who buy the stolen items, mostly smartphones.
The police could not explain why the suspected criminals have been let to roam freely.
