ATHI RIVER, Kenya – Police are investigating a daring Christmas Day robbery in which a businessman was attacked and dispossessed of his licensed firearm and Sh570,000 cash along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway in Athi River, Machakos County.
The incident occurred at around 7pm in the Maanzoni area and was reported to Kyumbi Police Station as a robbery with violence.
According to police, the victim, who runs a gas refilling plant in Kyumbi, was driving home after inspecting his business premises when his vehicle got stuck in a deep trench as he attempted to join the busy highway.
As he struggled to free the vehicle, a man armed with a firearm reportedly emerged, threatened him and forced open the driver’s door before overpowering him.
“The attacker made away with the victim’s Glock 19 pistol and an envelope containing Sh570,000,” a police source said.
During the struggle, however, the suspect dropped the firearm magazine, which was later recovered at the scene loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Police said the assailant crossed the highway after the robbery and escaped on a motorcycle whose number plate had been concealed. The rider, who had been waiting on the opposite side of the road, sped off towards Nairobi.
Officers from Kyumbi Police Station, accompanied by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), visited and processed the scene as investigations continue.
