A woman from Kiamumbi in Nairobi County is the latest victim of carjackers after she was waylaid and kidnapped on Sunday night while heading home.
The lady who was driving a Toyota Harrier was waiting for the gate to be opened at 11 pm when the gang ambushed her.
According to her statement to detectives investigating the case, the suspects carried her inside her vehicle before she lost consciousness.
She then woke up at Ruai Police Station with her car stolen. The victim believed that the gang dumped her at the police station before speeding off with her Toyota Harrier.
Police were yet to corroborate her statement as they only touched on efforts to recover her car which they traced to Naivasha.
The woman, by the time of publishing this article, had yet to reveal whether she visited a hospital for a check-up to ascertain if she had incurred any injuries.
Her case, nonetheless, joins the list of recent carjacking cases gaining pace across the country. Sikika Road Safety CEO Daniel Kiilu who highlighted the incident online told Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday that he handles about three similar cases daily.
On the Kiamumbi incident, he advised motorists against going home late. However, if a must, the motorists should inform those at home to wait for them and open the gate on time.
Additionally, the motorist should be aware of their surroundings and also enter the premises while driving in reverse to easily drive to safety when danger arises.
Kiilu further advised motorists to ensure they replace car trackers after purchasing second-hand vehicles to avoid being followed.
Motorists, he added, should also desist from leaving the car keys at the car wash where the attendants can easily make copies to steal their cars.
"They can also invest in advanced car trackers, which will locate their cars at any time compared to the cheap systems.
"These are among the basic guidelines we give motorists to keep themselves safe. We advise drivers against sharing their car cutouts because you never know who will steal from you," he stated.
Meanwhile Peter Murima, the Kenya Motorists Association Chairman told Kenyans.co.ke that the spike in carjacking was due to the tough economic times pushing people to commit crimes.
He added that some vehicles were also stolen at shylocks who prey on motorists in need of urgent money.
Murima opined that most cases of carjacking are carried out by people known to the car owner.
"These are people who know where you park when you leave the house and what time you come home. People should be unpredictable to avoid such incidents," he stated.
He also concurred with Sikika Road Safety CEO Daniel Kiilu on motorists avoiding driving through areas prone to carjacking incidents and also at night when traffic is low.
They should also be wary of bumps where carjackers lay traps as motorists tend to slow down.
Other precautions to take include avoiding parking lots in unsafe areas.
However, he pointed fingers at law enforcement officers who he alleged may be compromised and working in cahoots with carjackers. Murima noted that the police were slow in responding to these cases highlighting the need for enhanced security countrywide.
