A video showing suspected thugs attacking an alleged United Nations (UN) vehicle stuck in traffic and stripping off its front grille before fleeing the scene has sparked widespread outrage.
The incident was recorded on May 11, at approximately 3:00 PM along Parklands Road near the University of Nairobi School of Law, according to credible reports.
Dashcam Video Shows Thugs Stripping Off a Car Grille in Broad Daylight
Dashcam footage, seen by The Kenya Times on May 12, shows three suspected thugs approaching the vehicle while it was stuck in traffic.
One suspect, wearing a blue jacket, is seen quickly prying off the front grille within seconds, while two accomplices, one in a green cap and another wearing a wide‑brimmed hat, stand watch.
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After removing the grille, the suspects are seen calmly disappearing into the surrounding traffic and pedestrian crowd. The driver does not appear to react to the theft immediately.
Images circulating on social media showing the vehicle after the incident depict a silver Toyota Harrier with its front grille missing, fueling online speculation that the car may belong to a United Nations official.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the United Nations regarding the ownership of the vehicle.
No injuries were reported, and the damage appears limited to the missing grille, which online estimates and sellers place at about KSh 90,000 to replace.
DCI Links Nairobi Traffic Thefts to Organized Syndicates
The incident has sparked renewed public anger over the growing number of opportunistic car‑part thefts targeting vehicles caught in traffic across Nairobi.
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Such cases have been reported along busy corridors, including Parklands Road, Waiyaki Way, and Mombasa Road, as well as in areas around Westlands and Upper Hill.
Previously, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said it had intensified operations against motor vehicle theft syndicates.
In May 2025, the DCI, working with its Operation Action Team (OAT), arrested 28 suspects linked to organized car theft and recovered 22 stolen vehicles.
In a statement at the time, the DCI said many of the stolen vehicles had been sold to unsuspecting buyers locally or smuggled to neighboring countries, mainly Uganda and Tanzania.
“All arrested suspects have been arraigned in various courts across the country to face charges related to motor vehicle theft, fraud, and other related offenses,” the DCI said, adding that such crimes occur through various methods, including theft from parking lots, car‑hire scams, robbery with violence, and carjacking.
