Lang’ata now a crime hotspot as insecurity soars

By DANN OKOTH

Is Lang’ata turning into a motorist’s worst nightmare? Area residents are worried over the rise in crime rate and cite Lang’ata Road and its surroundings as the most affected areas.

The area has now become a crime hotspot, where life and property can be easily lost at the whims of marauding criminal gangs.

The country is still reeling from the shocking murder last week of a manager with an international NGO, in his house in Jamhuri Estate in Lang’ata, as his family watched.

And two weeks ago, the runaway insecurity in the country struck at the heart of the newsroom when an IT manager with the Standard Group was carjacked and a senior editor with the group attacked in his home in Lang’ata.

But truth be said, the criminals are not the only guilty party. In the dock with them is our whole system of security that should ensure the protection of life and property — but it seems to have failed.

Flying Squad unit swing into action to foil an attempted robbery in Nairobi’s CBD [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

The two Standard Group employees recounted their chilling experiences at the hands of the thugs, even as they recovered from the shock and trauma caused by the experience. “I stay in Lang’ata, Nairobi, near Sailing Club. Violent crime in the area has been very rare and most robberies involve muggings and burglaries,” says the senior editor who cannot be named because he fears for his life.

Eight young men

“On Wednesday, May 2, I had to rush home during lunch hour to take drugs to my eight-week old son. I had also withdrawn some cash to pay school fees for my daughter. When I arrived home, I parked the car outside my gate and went in. My wife was with a friend in the sitting room who had come to see her and our baby.

We chatted briefly and then I went to put the drugs in the refrigerator as my wife escorted her friend who was leaving. It was by then 2pm. I was coming out of the kitchen when eight young men armed with pistols burst into the house and ordered me to lie face down on the floor while pressing a gun to my head.

Several of them went upstairs to the bedrooms while others fanned out into the kitchen and ground floor bedroom. They pulled the maid from the kitchen and ordered her to lie down. “You know what this is?” said one of the thugs as he pressed a gun to my head while others frisked me.

One of them kicked me in the ribs. They emptied my wallet and took my ATM cards, watch and wedding band. How much cash do you have? We have been sent and we know all about you. Tukopamoja na tumetumwa kukumaliza (We are together and have been sent to finish you).

Don’t lie to us or we will just shoot you. How much money do you have in the bank? At this time my wife, completely unaware of the happenings inside the house, returned only to be confronted by thugs when she opened the gate. She was also ordered to lie face down. Meanwhile, they had started ransacking the house for valuables.

They took my car keys and drove the car into the compound to avoid being seen loading our valuables into the vehicle. After a while, they pulled me and our maid’s hands behind our backs, and tied them before securing our feet.

They demanded the PIN numbers to my ATM cards with a gun on my head and I gave it to them. They had only tied my wife’s feet because they wanted her to nurse our son but blindfolded her and asked her to sit on the sofa. For the next one and a-half hours, they took their time carrying our valuables to the car.

We were in excruciating pain from the bonds they had tied us with, and our heads were covered. They left at around 4.15pm. We managed to free ourselves and walked to my daughter’s school where the director helped us to phone the police.

There is no word from the police on how far the case has proceeded. It is very frustrating but we thank God we are alive and that my daughter was spared the terror. My baby son also slept through most of the commotion. What we have lost is nothing compared to life. But no one should be fooled. There is no security in this country, and only the grace of God keeps one safe. The police are poorly equipped to investigate armed robberies and seem to have very low morale.

Traumatising experience

The car is yet to be found, even though it is a colour and model that is easy to spot, and there is no word from the police despite numerous queries,” concludes the senior editor. The day he was attacked, the IT manager left the Standard Group offices on Mombasa Road and took the eastern by-pass, which he often uses to access his home in Karen. He narrates his ordeal:

“It was past 10pm on this Friday night and the roads were clear. Nothing seemed unusual. I drove to Lang’ata shopping centre where I stopped to buy some medicine. Suddenly, a car blocked my way from the front.

A man jumped into the front seat of my car and two others at the back. It happened so fast that I cannot recall how they managed to open the doors. The thugs, who were armed with pistols, ordered me to the back seat where I was sandwiched between two thugs. The one on my left hit me on my head with the barrel of the gun before handcuffing me.

We then drove from Lang’ata to Industrial Area via Nyayo Stadium and then to Jogoo Road.

It was now 11pm. At some point, they drove the car into a dingy corridor in Kiamaiko slum near Buruburu.

They took my wallet and everything in it, including my ATM card, and demanded its PIN, all along holding a gun to my head. They also took my phone then ordered me to jump into the boot. They drove the car until 5am when we came to a stop somewhere in Jericho Estate.

They opened the boot of the car and ordered me out. I was surprised when one of them handed me some money, telling me the vehicle would need to be refueled.

He even directed me on how to get to Jogoo Road before handing me my sim-card, telling me to drive away quickly as I could get carjacked again. I drove back to the office where I called my brother before proceeding to the Lang’ata Police Station where I reported the matter.

I was surprised at the calm manner in which the thugs carried the operation. They appeared to be in no hurry at all and acted like professionals.

At some point they even chatted me up.

I have never been carjacked before and the experience left me traumatised; but it also left me wondering whether we really have security in this country.” As a result of the recent spate of murders, violent robberies, and carjackings in the area, police in Lang’ata have been put on notice.

Operation plan 

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere is understood to have demanded to know how crimes such as homicide, carjacking and violent robberies could escalate in the area under the watch of the police. “We place the blame squarely on the officers in charge for spiraling crime in Lang’ata,” charged Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe.

“This a very serious matter because police have sufficient support units available for them, including flying squad. There is no excuse for the escalating crime,” he says.

“The commissioner has ordered the police in the area to immediately draw up an operation plan on how to counter insecurity in the area and identify ways in which to put the plans to effect,” he adds.

According to Kenya Police crime statistics, there were 36 cases of carjackings reported last year, compared to 48 incidents of carjacking in 2010. The report notes that some 764 vehicles were stolen last year, a large number compared to the 483 that were stolen in 2010.