Lucky escape for family after attack along southern Bypass

A section of the Southern Bypass in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The Southern Bypass in Nairobi has become dangerous as criminals target unsuspecting motorists.

Security apparatus say, attackers often place stones on the road or use large rocks to block traffic, forcing vehicles to stop, before they strike.

The latest incident involves a family traveling from Bomet to Nairobi during the festive season who fell victim to the criminals.

On the night of Saturday, December 28, 2024, a family of four, including siblings Mercy Chepkemoi and Prudence Chepngeno, was driving along the bypass near the Dagoretti-Karen turn when their car hit stones deliberately placed on the road by criminals.

“We had left Bomet at 3 p.m. and were approaching Nairobi around 7:30 p.m. when we saw the car ahead of us swerve suddenly to avoid hitting something, unfortunately, for us it was too late to avoid the stones. Two tires burst, and we pulled over to assess the damage,” Chepkemoi said.

According to Chepkemoi, the area appeared relatively safe, with streetlights on and a few cars passing by. But as the family worked to replace the punctured tires, a machete-wielding man emerged and assaulted her brothers.

“I saw a man raise a machete, aiming at my brother. I screamed, but he moved too fast, slashing my brother from the ear to the neck, leaving him unconscious. He then turned on my other brother, hacking him before he too collapsed,” said Chepkemoi.

In the ensuing chaos, Chepngeno ran to the other side of the road seeking help, while Chepkemoi locked herself in the car.

The assailant shattered the windshield and driver’s window, snatching a handbag and a phone before demanding more valuables.

“He came back, broke the window, and threatened me with the machete. I handed over my phone, and he disappeared momentarily,” Chepkemoi added.

She said the criminal returned each time unleashing terror.

“He fought with my sister over the steering wheel, then slashed her face. We were bleeding and terrified, but no car stopped to help us until a truck driver who came to our rescue helped us stop another car, a good Samaritan who helped came in handy and even took us to hospital,” she said.

Hellen Baliach, their mother who travelled to Nairobi to check on them is now pleading for justice.

Baliach, called on the police to speed up the investigations and arrest the suspect.

Further, she expressed gratitude for those who stopped to help, while urging Kenyans to be more vigilant and assist others in distress.

The attack has left emotional and physical scars on the family, but they remain hopeful that justice will be served.

“We just want to heal and move on, but the authorities must ensure that no one else endures what we went through,” said Chepngeno.

Meanwhile, in a statement posted on X yesterday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the arrest of one suspect, identified as Martin Otieno.

“In response to reports of a string of robbery incidents plaguing motorists on the Southern Bypass in Nairobi, a dynamic initiative spearheaded by the Regional Criminal Investigations Officer, along with officers from DCI Lang'ata and DCI Dagoretti, has significantly ramped up patrol activities in the area. This coordinated effort led to the swift arrest of Martin Otieno, who brazenly attempted to rob unsuspecting drivers yesterday along this notorious stretch of road,” the DCI noted.

The agency noted that the suspect's strategy involved positioning a massive stone to obstruct traffic, creating the perfect opportunity to launch his assault.

DCI noted that while on patrol, officers were alerted by a loud crash, and when they rushed to the scene, they discovered that a Volkswagen, bearing the registration KYW 690, had collided with the stone as it drove towards Ngong Road.

According to the occupants of the car, the DCI noted, after hitting the stone, the suspect emerged from a nearby thicket, where he immediately confronted and robbed them their valuables.

"Without hesitation, the patrolling officers pursued the fleeing suspect into the nearby thicket. He was apprehended in no time. He is currently in police custody and is set to be processed for arraignment on Monday, January 6, 2025," noted DCI.

In November last year, a cyclist narrowly escaped death after being ambushed near the Safaricom Booster. She was stabbed, dragged into the nearby forest, and robbed of her belongings, including her bike. Rescuers later found her unconscious, with her bloodied clothes nearby.

In 2021, in another incident, a motorist traveling with his family at 3 a.m. encountered stones placed on the road to force vehicles to stop. After his car was damaged, three armed thugs approached, but their robbery attempt was thwarted when other motorists arrived and scared them off.