'Those are not goons!' MP Karauri says Expressway 'robbery' suspects were helping him

Footage circulating across online platforms triggered widespread public panic, with many alarmed by what appeared to be a brazen, daytime security breach on one of Nairobi’s key infrastructure corridors. 

The clip showed several young men surrounding a stationary vehicle, prompting speculation of highway robbery.

Addressing the situation directly in a video statement, MP Karauri clarified that he was personally inside the vehicle involved in the incident and confirmed that no crime took place.

He explained that the car suffered a mechanical door failure that prevented it from securing properly while in motion, forcing them to pull over. 

The individuals seen surrounding the vehicle were not robbers, but companions and fellow Nairobians helping resolve the issue, he said. 

"I just wanted to calm everybody down because these are not goons. These are people I was with; I was coming from a meeting with fellow Nairobians. My door could not close, and apparently, in that particular car, as long as you're moving, you cannot lock the doors. So I was in a bit of distress," he explained. 

"I had to actually stop right there on the Expressway, and when they saw me stop, they came to help me. So we managed to close the door and we proceeded on."

Karauri’s statement aligns with clarifications issued by Moja Expressway Company and local law enforcement authorities, who confirmed after an investigation that no robbery took place along the toll road. 

"Just to clarify, these are not goons, these are normal Nairobi young people. I think it's just a message for everybody to calm down," Karauri added. 

Moja Expressway Company, the private entity that operates the toll road, clarified that the event was merely a brief logistics stop rather than a security breach. 

According to their tracking and traffic monitoring data, the two vehicles captured in the scene belonged to a delegation of politicians leaving a nearby function.

Nairobi Region police command also urged members of the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified images online to avoid causing unnecessary panic or spreading disinformation regarding public safety on key national infrastructure.