NAIROBI, Kenya — Moja Expressway has dismissed as false claims that a viral image circulating on social media showed motorists being robbed in broad daylight on the Nairobi Expressway.
The image, which shows several people standing between vehicles on the highway, sparked widespread concern online, with social media users alleging that a gang had attacked motorists on the busy road.
However, investigations by Citizen TV, together with inquiries by security agencies and the Nairobi Expressway operator, found that the incident was not a robbery.
Moja Expressway, the company responsible for operating the toll road, said the vehicles seen in the image belonged to a group of politicians who had briefly stopped along the highway while travelling from a nearby function.
Politicians briefly stopped to change vehicles
According to Moja Expressway’s traffic monitoring and tracking data, the two vehicles captured in the viral image were part of a political delegation.
The convoy reportedly pulled over briefly at the section of the expressway to allow some of its occupants to change vehicles before continuing with their journey.
The temporary stop created the appearance of an unusual gathering on the highway, which was subsequently captured in an image and circulated widely online.
The image was later accompanied by claims that motorists were being attacked and robbed in broad daylight.
Moja Expressway said those claims were inaccurate.
Police find no robbery complaint
Security agencies also investigated the allegations after the image generated public concern.
Central Police Station OCPD Patrick Gogo reportedly initiated checks across several police stations to establish whether any motorists had reported being robbed on the Nairobi Expressway.
At the same time, Nairobi Regional DCI boss Daniel Kandie led a parallel inquiry into the alleged incident.
Police searches for a corresponding robbery complaint did not identify any victim or report matching the claims circulating online.
The absence of a reported robbery victim or complaint further supported the conclusion that the scene did not involve a criminal attack.
Motorist confirms no robbery took place
Investigators also traced one of the motorists whose vehicle appeared in the background of the viral image through registration information obtained from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) system.
When contacted by Citizen TV, the motorist confirmed that they had simply driven past the scene.
The driver said they noticed what appeared to be a minor commotion and some traffic obstruction caused by the vehicles that had stopped on the road.
However, the motorist confirmed that no robbery was taking place.
The account provided an independent perspective supporting the findings by Moja Expressway and police.
Viral image sparks public alarm
Social media posts quickly framed the scene as evidence of worsening insecurity, with some users warning motorists to exercise extreme caution when using the Nairobi Expressway.
The claims also attracted political commentary as users debated the state of security on major roads in Nairobi.
The subsequent investigation, however, found that the interpretation of the image was incorrect.
The incident demonstrates how photographs without sufficient context can quickly be presented as evidence of criminal activity even when the circumstances surrounding them are different.
Police warn against spreading unverified claims
The Nairobi Region police command has urged members of the public to exercise caution before sharing images or reports whose authenticity has not been established.
Authorities warned that unverified claims about security incidents can cause unnecessary public anxiety and contribute to the spread of disinformation.
Police nevertheless said anyone with credible information about the incident, or anyone who believes they were a victim of a robbery on the Nairobi Expressway, should report to the nearest police station within the Nairobi command.
Such reports would allow investigators to establish whether there is any separate criminal incident requiring investigation.
No evidence of Nairobi Expressway robbery in viral incident
The findings provide a significantly different account from the one initially presented on social media.
Rather than a gang attacking motorists, the scene involved a political convoy that had temporarily stopped to facilitate a vehicle change.
Moja Expressway’s traffic data, police inquiries and the account of a motorist who passed the scene all point to the same conclusion: the viral image did not depict a robbery.
Authorities are now encouraging members of the public to verify claims through credible sources before sharing potentially alarming information.
