Video of boda boda rider snatching traffic officer's phone goes viral

Hours after Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai announced the formation of an anti-mugging squad to deal with thugs using get-away motorbikes in the city, CCTV footage of a motorbike rider snatching a mobile phone from a traffic officer emerged on Monday.

The clip seen by The Standard has been doing the rounds online. We are yet to identify the location it was taken.

In the video, a traffic officer is seen standing next to a police bus while talking on his phone as a rider on a boda boda is seen watching him from a distance.

The rider briefly stops to assess the situation before quickly snatching the phone from the cop’s ear, leaving him confused.

In the video, the cop is seen giving chase on foot. As he runs, his cap falls and a few steps later, the officer gives up.

The 44-seconds long clip ends as the officer seeks the help of another motorbike rider to pursue the suspect.

When the clip emerged online on Monday, there were claims that the incident occurred on Kangundo Road, Nairobi County.

However, speaking to The Standard on phone, Embakasi OCPD Francis Ngugi dismissed reports that the incident took place on Kangundo Road, adding that they are yet to receive any complaint from any officer who lost his phone.

“Unless we get a complainant, which we haven’t found, we cannot independently verify the location of the incident.

He, however, said they are aware of cases of thugs resorting to use motorbikes to mug members of the public and that a team is on the ground to deal with the vice.

The IG had on Monday during his #EngagetheIG forum put on notice thugs using get-away motorbikes to mug people mostly in the city, saying their days were numbered.

Mutyambai said the National Police Service has formed an anti-mugging squad to deal with rising cases of motorbike crimes.

“We have an anti-mugging squad specifically formed to deal with crime,” he said urging members of the public to indicate the exact spot of the crimes while reporting such cases to police.

The Monday footage comes after a similar one on July 6 in which a pillion passenger on a motorbike was captured snatching a phone from a police officer manning traffic before taking off.

National Police Service (NPS), however, dismissed the viral video claiming it was manipulated.