Nakuru robberies: New attack in Racecourse as leaders speak out

On Friday evening around 7:30 pm, Jackson Maina was busy at his shop in Race Course, working hard to make ends meet.

A customer approached wanting to buy an LPG gas cylinder. Jackson kindly walked the customer to where he stored the cylinders, and the customer chose the one he wanted.

The customer then excused himself to make a phone call, and shortly after, three other individuals joined them. Before long, Jackson was pushed inside his shop, and the intruders began demanding money.

Jackson tried to question them about their motives, but instead, they started assaulting him. One of the attackers pulled out a machete and struck Jackson on the back.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu over the phone, Nakuru Town West Sub County Police Commander Stephen Kirui reveals that the assailants escaped with Sh40,000.

“Jackson was with his family at the time, but fortunately, none of them were harmed. He was rushed to Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment,” the commander says.

He adds that preliminary investigations do not link the attackers to the group that has been terrorizing residents over the past two weeks.

“We interviewed the victim briefly, and he mentioned having a disagreement with members of his church, who had threatened to harm him at his workplace,” the commander explains. He confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

We also reached out to Dr. James Waweru, Medical Superintendent at Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital, who confirmed that Jackson is recuperating well.

While this incident may be unrelated to the recent wave of crimes shaking Nakuru, it highlights the ongoing concerns about security among residents.

Nakuru Town West Member of Parliament Samuel Arama during an interview with Citizen TV dismissed the insecurity cases as normal saying they are isolated cases.

“There was an incident in Pipeline and another in my constituency. We believe it’s the same individual behind these attacks, but the police are actively handling the situation,” he says.

However, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari expressed a different view, acknowledging security lapses in the county, especially in areas of Barnabas, which borders Nakuru Town East, Gilgil, and Bahati.

“We’ve seen numerous incidents, and this challenge needs urgent attention. I’ve raised this with the Interior Minister because police officers in my constituency lack transportation to respond quickly to emergencies or conduct patrols. I even suggested amending the laws so that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) can be used to purchase vehicles for police stations, enhancing mobility,” she notes.

Bahati MP Irene Njoki disagreed with Arama’s assessment, stating that insecurity is a serious problem in Nakuru and killings are not normal.

“In my constituency alone, two people have been murdered. I urge the national government to intervene urgently,” she says.

David Gikaria, Nakuru Town East MP, also acknowledged the security challenges, explaining that this is a nationwide issue largely driven by youth unemployment.

“As leaders, we need to find ways to allocate funds, even in the budget, to help tackle security problems in our constituencies,” he stressed.

Governor Susan Kihika, via a Facebook post, pledged to work closely with security agencies to prevent such heinous crimes from recurring.

“I encourage all Nakuru residents to remain vigilant and report any information that could assist law enforcement,” she wrote.

Jackson Maina’s case brings the total number of reported robberies in Nakuru over the last two weeks to seven, underscoring the urgent need for improved security measures.