Ngata residents shaken by brutal robbery as police link crime to Pipeline gang

The last few days have been marred with chilling accounts of violent robberies resulting to loss of life in Nakuru.

The most recent case unfolded on Wednesday at Ngata Bridge involving robbery of an M-PESA outlet that resulted in the fatal shooting of a young man.

Caroline Kwamboka the victim says that two assailants invaded her shop at around 8:30pm and ordered her to give them money.

“They brutally assaulted me, they grabbed me by the hair and told me to give them all the money I had or else they would hurt me. I pointed them to the cash register where they took the sh. 40,000, and they made away with other items. They told me to lock myself in the shop and after they left, I had a gunshot, I did not know it was the young man who had been fatally injured at the time. I learnt of it later on” she says.  

Erick Osondo, a local entrepreneur, shared a disturbing account of what transpired between 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. — events that ultimately led to the tragic death of a young man whose only misstep was responding to a woman’s distress call.

“I was inside my shop when I heard commotion right outside. I rushed out and saw a man armed with what looked like an AK-47 standing guard while another was viciously assaulting Caro (M-pesa shop owner). I quickly retreated back into my shop and stayed there. Moments later, I heard a loud bang,” Erick recalls.

Chelimo Phila, another resident, recalls that she heard screams, followed shortly by a loud bang.

She explains that the young man who lost his life had been using a public Wi-Fi connection just a few meters away when he met his tragic fate.

“It happened just as the attackers were finishing up with Caro and were starting to leave. The young man rushed out of a nearby gate to help her, but unfortunately came face-to-face with the assailants. One of them, who had a gun, shot him as he tried to retreat. He collapsed in a nearby ditch and died on the spot,” she narrates.

According to Erick, when first responders arrived, they initially assumed that Caro was the one who had been shot. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that they discovered the man’s lifeless body lying nearby.

Wycliffe Maroro, another concerned resident, notes that cases of insecurity have been surging within the estate.

He pointed out that there are only a handful of police officers assigned to cover a vast area, making it difficult to respond adequately to the growing threats.

“Reports of daytime robberies and home invasions have become alarmingly routine in Arap Chumo estate. We’re pleading for increased police patrols. And frankly, the situation is worse at night because there are some areas that lack adequate lighting. Installing security lights would go a long way in boosting visibility and deterring criminal activity,” he emphasizes.

Nelly Sigilai says that a robbery occurred in a nearby salon.

“These criminals have grown bolder over time, pulling off these attacks with alarming regularity. We’re really scared — no one knows who could be the next target. That’s why we’re calling for more rigorous and visible patrols,” she laments.

County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara confirmed the incident saying, "These individuals have committed several robberies in the pipeline area. We believe they are the same ones who carried out yesterday's incident at Ngata Bridge because they have a similar modus operandi (a way of doing something). We are carrying out investigations into the matter," he concludes.