Armed gang shoots M-Pesa attendant, steals Ksh.600K in Ruiru

A local businessman is fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit at Kenyatta University Referral Hospital after he was shot during a daring morning robbery at an M-Pesa and gas outlet in Membley, Ruiru.

Two armed and masked men raided the business at Favour Business Centre at around 7:30 am on Friday and escaped with more than Ksh.600,000 after holding two attendants at gunpoint.

Exclusive CCTV footage captured the two suspects walking into the M-Pesa shop before drawing their pistols and ordering the attendants to surrender the cash.

The robbery lasted less than five minutes, but turned bloody when attendants and witnesses pursued the suspects as they fled towards Kamae Estate on a motorcycle.

The gang reportedly opened fire at the pursuing crowd, firing nearly 10 rounds. Two bullets struck male attendant Jackson Maina in the chest and ribs.

Maina collapsed and was rushed to Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, where he remains in the ICU.

“Hao watu walikuja na kuingia tu, all of a sudden, they got them in the shop, wakaamza kuiba, after that he was shot...He was just doing his job,...now he is in the ICU at Kenyatta National Hospital fighting for his life....” said Paul Njoroge, a family member of Maina.

Residents have also raised questions over the police response, claiming that an officer from Kahawa West arrived at the scene and collected spent cartridges, while officers at Membley Police Station did not have an operational vehicle.

Epha Maina, a Membley resident, questioned why the gang would shoot the attendant after taking the money.

“After hiyo shooting, sasa kijana ako hospital na jamaa ameenda na pesa, why steal and shoot him? SI huyo ni muuaji...Police, yes, Kuna POLISI alikuja lakini alikuwa wa Kahawa West akachukua Ganda za risasi? Mbona na yeye sio wa hii jurisdiction? Alafu POLISI hawa wa Membley hawana gari, kabisa. By the time they arrived, the criminals were already gone. We are completely unsafe here...” said Maina.

Kiambu County Police Commander Kennedy Osando Samani said detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have retrieved the CCTV footage and questioned key witnesses as investigations continue.

He said investigators are also examining possible links between the robbery and rogue police officers.

“Our investigations are at an advanced stage to trace this armed gang. We are looking into all angles, including internal complicity, and we will bring the culprits to book,” said Osando.

Police are now pursuing the suspects as detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding the robbery and the shooting.

The brazen raid has once again exposed the growing threat posed by organised and heavily armed criminal gangs operating across Nairobi, Kiambu and neighbouring areas.