Thieves steal Kuppet's van from church car park in Milimani

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) is looking for its van that was stolen on January 19 while parked at the ACK St Christopher Church in Milimani.

The van, a Toyota Hiace, is branded Kuppet and has distinctive yellow, green, white and black branding with registration number KDN 360U.

According to Duncan Macharia, the secretary of Kuppet Nakuru branch, the vehicle is part of the Teachers' Burial Benevolent Fund (BBF) and is mainly used to transport teachers during burials and is sometimes converted into a hearse when needed.

"We are very concerned about the increasing number of incidents that are taking place in broad daylight, even in places that are supposed to be safe," Mr Macharia says. 

"The van is crucial in providing services to the community and this theft is a major setback," he says.

The incident happened at around 6pm when the vehicle was parked in the church parking area, an area normally full of vehicles and managed by church officials.

"The security guard reported that two men approached the car park and said they wanted to borrow the vehicle. One of the men stayed behind to talk to the guard, asking for water and trying to distract him. Meanwhile, the other took advantage of the situation, went to the van and drove away with it," Mr Macharia says.

Mr Macharia believes this was a tactic to confuse the security guard and allow the other man to take advantage of the situation.

The incident has been reported to the Show Ground police station and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Kaptembwa.