Police in Kisii have started a search for nine suspects after a 65-year-old security guard working there was killed during a raid on a mobile money agent in Suneka Town, Kisii County.
The audacious nighttime robbery incident, which horrified the victims, was caught on CCTV cameras. According to the police, the suspects fled with cash of unknown value.
A few minutes before 8 o'clock on July 10, 2023, when regular business was still being conducted, and merchants were preparing to close up shop for the day and head home, a violent heist was caught on camera.
A group of men entered the building; one wore a red and white scarf and posed as a customer.
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The robbers were observed pulling their firearms as they entered the mobile money agent outlet, which was their intended target.
A confrontation ensued when a 65-year-old guy wearing a red cap and an unnamed man in an orange coat attempted to stop the thieves causing them to fire six bullets from an AK47 pistol.
The man wearing an orange coat was struck with a blunt instrument as the thieves entered the shop. Moenga, wearing a navy blue coat and a red cap at the time, was shot in the back.
Cashiers fled for cover inside the mobile money agent store as the armed bandits stole money while brandishing pistols and other homemade weapons.
The robbers were only on the scene for less than 7 minutes before fleeing, leaving the employees and residents in complete disbelief.
Interestingly, the incident happened only half a kilometre from the Suneka Police Station, a distance of three minutes to walk.
The family in Moenga's Bonanyando residence is still in shock over the robbery incident on Monday that resulted in the death of a husband and father.
They claim to have heard the gunshots before learning that a family member had been killed.
“Kuna simu nilipata nikaambiwa Suneka ni mbaya, simu nilipata baada ya hapo ni kuwa ndugu yangu ameshootiwa. Nilikimbia hadi hapo nikapata ndugu yangu amepigwa mgongo na akapelekwa hospitali ya Nyangena,” Antony Nyaende, the deceased’s brother explained.
The widow of the deceased person, Elmelda Nyanchama, continued, "Hiyo siku nilikuwa hapa nikajaribu kumpigia ikalia hakushika...nikajaribu tena ndio nikapata Habari kumbe alipigwa risasi."
The family is devastated since their 65-year-old relative was the primary provider.
"Serikali tunataka uchunguzi wa kina kuhusu kisa hiki, sisi hapa hatujui tutafanyeje Peter ndio alikuwa tegemeo," Nyanchama bemoaned.
One of the inhabitants of Suneka expressed concern about the security situation by saying, "It was an inside job because tumeskia bunduki walikuwa wanatumia sio ya raia wa kawaida, walikuwa wanatumia AK47, mabunduki ya hali ya juu."
Suneka Traders Association Chairman Andrew Mogire said: "Tujue vile hii maneno inaendelea kwa sababu tukirudi vile ilikuwa kitambo usalama sio mzuri."
Kisii DCIO Catherine Njue stated that the CCTV footage would help the detectives gather evidence as they found three expended cartridges at the crime scene. Detectives in Kisii are looking for the nine thieves.
