A group of women at a salon in Saika, Kasarani, narrowly escaped harm after two armed robbers stormed the premises on a robbery mission.
From the CCTV footage shared online, the two men robbed customers and staff during a brazen daylight attack using guns.
The incident, which occurred on July 26, has sparked renewed concerns over security in Nairobi following a series of reported armed robberies targeting businesses and members of the public.
An approximately 35-second CCTV clip shows two men entering the salon while several women are inside receiving hair services or waiting.
One of the suspects, dressed in a dark top and cap, appears to be armed and immediately begins threatening those present while his accomplice moves around the salon as the pair quickly take control of the situation.
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CCTV Footage Details of the Robbery
After entering the salon, the suspect went ahead to greet the unsuspecting women, who responded casually before taking out his gun from his jacket pocket and proceeding to rob the women.
“How are you all? Everybody should remain quiet and seated,” one of the robbers is heard issuing directions in Kiswahili to the women in the salon.
The women are seen reacting with fear, with some ducking, moving away, or complying with the robbers’ demands as one of the armed robbers wearing a helmet stood at the entrance to prevent the women from escaping.
During the ordeal, the suspects collect valuables from the victims, reportedly including mobile phones and personal belongings.
One woman manages to flee from the salon moments after the robbery begins, while others remain inside as the suspects continue intimidating customers and staff.
A woman wearing a black top is seen handling a pink item, believed to be among the belongings taken during the incident.
After collecting the stolen items, the two suspects leave the premises and disappear from the scene within seconds.
In a panic, the women in the salon, who were screaming in an attempt to attract the attention of the passersby and potential help, locked themselves in the salon.
Public Reactions to the Saika Salon Robbery
Following the circulation of the Saika Salon robbery CCTV footage on social media, members of the public have raised concerns about the rising insecurity in parts of the capital.
In addition, the public has expressed frustration over the apparent ease with which the armed men carried out the robbery in broad daylight.
According to Angeline Atieno, there is easy access to guns by the goons while innocent people are dying through allegations of being goons.
“The pistols are in the hands of goons who are so confident, and the wrong people are being killed as goons,” Angeline Atieno noted.
As some expressed concern about the rise in robbery in the country, some questioned why citizens around the area did not take a step in helping the women, while others argued that the robbery might have been planned by one of the women in the salon.
Despite no serious injuries being evident from the CCTV footage, and the primary focus of the attackers appearing to have been the theft of valuables, some members of the public have argued that direct threat may cause emotional and psychological torture to the victims.
Further, the members of the public have called upon the authorities to take action in arresting and charging the perpetrators.
Others have advised that salon businesses should start making appointments online and keep the doors closed for their safety.
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Earlier Cases of Robbery
The Saika robbery comes just weeks after a similar armed attack at Chaiiwali Restaurant along General Mathenge Road in Westlands on July 4.
According to CCTV footage obtained at the scene, the armed criminals stormed the establishment, robbed customers of mobile phones and other valuables, and fired shots into the air before fleeing on motorcycles.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested three suspects during an intelligence-led operation in Githurai, Kiambu County, on July 20.
During the operation, officers recovered two pistols and ammunition believed to have been used in a string of robberies across Nairobi and areas surrounding the county, with the preliminary investigations linking the suspects to the Chaiiwali restaurant robbery.
The suspects were reported to have attempted to escape from a sixth-floor apartment after detecting the presence of detectives but were apprehended following an alarm raised by members of the public, according to police,
Among the suspects linked to the Chaiiwali Restaurant, a female suspect reportedly escaped during the arrest.
Investigators have also indicated that one suspect linked to the Westlands robbery was later killed during a police operation in Joska, where authorities recovered a firearm that had previously been issued to a Court of Appeal judge on July 13.
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