Stolen 'Discovery' used in 10 robberies in one night in Nairobi, Kiambu

The robbers carjacked their victim at Ruaka in Kiambu County on Wednesday night, September 14, 2022. [File, Standard]

Police are pursuing a gang of robbers, who carjacked the aide of a former governor and used his vehicle in a string of robberies in Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night, September 14.

The victim, Moses Konana, had dropped a friend at Ruaka in Kiambu County at 11pm, and when he was on his way out, the three armed robbers, who had face masks, confronted him.

They, thereafter, bundled him into the boot of his vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, and embarked on a spate of robberies within Kiambu and the neighbouring Nairobi County.

One of the robbers took control of the car as driver.

Between 11pm Wednesday and 5am Thursday, the suspected criminals cornered and robbed motorists on the highways, feeder roads and estate roads.

Konana said the robbers smoked bhang in his car as they celebrated their windfall.

"They'd use my car to block other motorists and, thereafter, rob their victims at gunpoint," Konana said in his police report filed at the Limuru Police Station.

"Upon robbing the victims of their valuables, they'd speed off," he added.

Konana said the suspected criminals robbed at least ten motorists at gunpoint, with a majority of their victims being from Kikuyu, Limuru, Ruaka, Southern Bypass, and Thigio areas.

Businessman shot dead

Konana said one of the suspect's victim, a businessman who lives in Limuru but has business stalls in Nairobi, died after the robbers shot him in the back.

He said that at 5am on Thursday, the robbers trailed the businessman from Ruaka Shopping Centre and cornered him when he was about to enter his compound at Thigio in Limuru.

"They'd ordered the deceased to lie down, but he fought back, ending in the fatal shooting," said Konana.

Kiambu County Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer Richard Mwaura told The Standard that the businessman died at the scene.

"We took the slain businessman's body to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital for autopsy," said Mwaura.

Throughout the horrifying robberies, Konana said he remained confined to the boot of his vehicle.

"Upon driving to Kikuyu at around 5am, they threw me out of the vehicle and sped off," he said.

Surveillance cameras mounted on major city roads last captured the Land Rover Discovery at Pangani Shopping Centre in Nairobi at 5:45am Thursday.

Konana said a good Samaritan rescued and took him to Limuru Police Station, where he recorded his statement.

The carjacking victim lost his belonging, including money and mobile phone, in the six-hour ordeal.

He also recorded another statement at the Lang'ata Police Station in Nairobi later Thursday.

As of the time of publishing this story, Kiambu County DCI boss Richard Mwaura said Konana's car was yet to be found.

"We've, however, made significant progress with our investigations," he said.