By CYRUS OMBATI
NAIROBI, KENYA: There is a deadly gang in the city called ‘40 Brothers’ that mugs and robs pedestrians of their money and valuables.
The gang – operating in a group of 10 – has been blamed for muggings in which pedestrians have lost tens or hundreds of thousands of shillings after withdrawing from banks.
The gang has staged at least five attacks in the city and made away with money, Central police boss Patrick Oduma said.
“They seem to be well connected because we wonder how they know one has withdrawn money from a bank before they stage an attack,” Oduma said.
On May 11, a prominent businessman was robbed of Sh2.1 million in US dollars on Kenyatta Avenue moments after he had withdrawn the money from the bank.
The victim said a gang of about eight attacked him at about 11am outside Uganda House. They took the money and his mobile phone.
The businessman said when he tried to raise alarm some of the muggers joined in claiming they knew him.
“They shouted saying the attackers and I knew one another to distract public attention. This is a trick they use to escape attention,” said the man who asked not to be named.
He reported the matter to the Central police but no arrest has been made so far.
Police are pursuing the case.
“We want to know if the information of this man carrying money was leaked inside the bank,” said Oduma.
The city police boss said they are facing a challenge in prosecuting those arrested as they get bailed out and go back to their business.
“The problem is our bad laws. Most of these suspects are charged with touting which charge cheap fines and they leave,” said provincial police boss Benson Kibui.
He added a police squad has been formed and more officers recruited to deal with the gang.
Most of the city streets are usually dangerous in the evening, morning and when raining.
The previous week, a similar incident had happened on the same spot.
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