[kictanet] Daylight Robbery along Southern Bypass - Nairobi

Thu Nov 24 15:42:04 EAT 2011

Nairobi isn't a very safe place in most areas.

Also, cameras will only help both security and road safety if anyone
actually does anything with the information recorded.

On 24 November 2011 13:40, Harry Delano <harry at comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:

>  Pole for what happened, and thankfully you are well.****
>
>  ****
>
> I believe some of the highway cameras will in due time become helpful in
> monitoring****
>
> and capturing  the goings on along some of these stretches. Especially
> those mounted****
>
> on high voltage KPLC masts alongside the roads will do the job.****
>
> ** **
>
> I propose as speed cameras are discussed, a security angle of it should as
> well be ****
>
> Introduced/considered, to keep our populace safe. Who is behind this
> project..?****
>
> In fact we should start by mounting GSM security cameras in places
> considered crime ****
>
> prone.****
>
> ** **
>
> Harry****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto:
> kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf
> Of *Philip Adar
> *Sent:* Thursday, November 24, 2011 11:24 AM
> *To:* harry at comtelsys.co.ke
> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> *Subject:* [kictanet] Daylight Robbery along Southern Bypass - Nairobi****
>
> ** **
>
> Who knows when they will ever come calling?
>
> It is on Wednesday 23rd November 2011, I left office (Ngong Road) with
> another appointment at 6pm in Nairobi West. To make it in time, I decide
> that Ngong road is not fast enough and clearly remembers the usability of
> an alternative "short-cut" route; the Southern Bypass. After all, it is
> still daytime.
>
> As I take my turn into the Southern Bypass, driving towards Langata,
> everything seems okay. Several on coming cars are seen. Actually the road
> is busy, many vehicles but nevertheless that is good for security and some
> great distances are covered pretty fast.
>
> One little hill done, then valley, then the next hill is approach,
> actually now mid way along this route. Suddenly, some vehicle is spotted
> parked on the right side of the road, doors wide open. I slow down a bit,
> avoiding to hit onto the doors of the other vehicle. Speed is reduced from
> an average of 100Km/h to 30 or 40Km/h, and the car is now positioned for
> the eventual overtaking.
>
> Suddenly a youthful Kenyan is spotted doing his nation building duties. He
> is standing in the middle of the road, about 30 meters away; with a gun in
> hand; pointing towards the on-coming car. I tries a U-turn on this "loose
> earth" road, impossible on this narrow road with deep trenches on both
> sides of the road . 2 gun shots in quick succession are fired towards me;
> and by now I realizes that the road is narrow and the u-turn cannot work at
> all.
>
> Cornered, un-armed and frightened, I surrenders and obeys. I jumps out of
> the car and my belly is welcomed flat on the dusty murram road. My feet
> landing directly on the muddy waterway on the side of the road. Not
> comfortable, but in situations like this; instincts quickly gathers that
> you do not complain! My pockets are frisked; the car is run-sacked;
> everything is taken away. out of curiosity I peep from under the car over
> the other sides and immediately notices a couple of other private cars
> (about 5 to 7 in total); occupants (both men women of stature); all sharing
> in my predicament on the surface of the murram road. I consoles myself that
> after all, it will be many murders, not just one. Something like this may
> definitely attract the governments attention to these matters of security.
>
> In a couple of minutes, the youth group (approximately 5 in total);
> invites everybody back to their cars as they dash into the nearby Ngong
> forest. In fact they shout thank you's to us for having chosen to travel
> this short-cut road without traffic jams and even encourages us to continue
> using it in the future. We are reminded that with no resistance, things can
> never get bloody...
>
> Indeed, very nice words for me by now...
>
> I collects himself from the ground, dusts off a little bit, but most of
> the mud is too stubborn. Luckily, the car engine is still running. About
> 500 meters from the scene, I notices several vehicles; private cars and
> public vans (buses and matatu's) parked on the road waiting for the ordeal
> happening just ahead to complete. Of course it is clear that they watched
> the whole episode. Some by-standers (about 10 to 15) as well are spotted by
> the road side, watching the episode.
>
> As I continue down the road about 2Km from the robbery scene, I spots two
> cops on patrol. I slow down and pulls over to the attention of the two cops
> armed to the teeth, each with an AK-47. I narrates the ordeal briefly and
> the cops asks for a quick ride to reach the scene and follow the
> gun-trotting youths. After all, I have lost so much; I agree to drive the
> cops. The car is now a police response vehicle. By now the cops are asking
> too many questions: How many were they?, did they have guns?, I heard some
> gun shots, was it there!, roughly how many people/cars were there? How much
> money did they take from you??? etc. I give rough estimates as we speed
> towards the scene, now beaming with confidence. After all, I am protected
> with two AK-47's (most probably loaded). The cops promises to get something
> back, if not everything, but at least the documents which they are sure
> will not be useful for these youthful Kenyans doing their part in the
> nation-building business.
>
> After some distance, I pull over and shows the two cops the presumed
> location of the incident, but they refuses to accept this location and
> points to some other location some 500 meters ahead. I drives further ahead
> and actually realizes that I was confused. The cops who were about 2-3 KM
> away from the scene of the incident knows better...!!!
>
> The cops disembark, heads towards the forest and urges him to proceed and
> report the incident at Karen police station.
>
> *
> The morale of the true story: The Southern Bypass in NOT safe anytime, day
> or night; with or without the police. Sambaza to your contacts. It is not
> an interesting thing to experience.
>
> Can media highlight such cases publicly on prime time news so that all
> Nairobians get to know these unsafe places? If someone could have died,
> yes; it could have been on news! We can help others by warning tirelessly,
> without surrender...
> *
>
> --
> Regards
>
> Philip Adar****
>
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