Esports business owners across the country have raised alarm over a surge in robbery incidents targetting the sector.
In a letter to Inspector General Japhet Koome on Tuesday, February 6, Ronny Lusigi, Esports Kenya Federation president, noted that several premises have lost over Ksh26 million just weeks apart.
He questioned the laxity of the National Police Service (NPS) in dealing with the matter, noting that the continuous trend has led to loss of jobs, depression and investors fleeing the market.
Lusigi pointed out a similar robbery pattern in the cases, whereby the thieves conduct early morning raids. Further, he noted that the robbers tend to distract security guards while the others carry out the operations.
The cases have been reported in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD), Nakuru, Utawala, Likoni, Thika Road, Machakos, Meru, Kisii and Kiambu among others.
"Our nation is witnessing an unprecedented surge in robberies at PlayStation shops where our esports is practised. This has led to huge losses amounting to hundreds of millions, spreading joblessness, desolateness, hopelessness, and weariness," the notice read in part.
"These robberies have similar modus operandi, and the response from the authorities has been lackadaisical and languorous, to say the least."
Lusigi called on IG Koome to engage the stakeholders in a meeting to address the issue.
"Worse still, the black market where these equipment are sold is known and operates in broad daylight. I am afraid that their continued operation may force aggrieved citizens to pay them a visit where what will happen is better imagined than experienced," Lusigi noted.
"We request a meeting with you to address this irksome matter. Furthermore, I have attached a list of at least 20 cases of such robberies, recently brought to our attention."
Johnson Guro, owner of Guro D3 in Thika Gateway, Kiambu County, narrated the frustrations of working with the police in seeking justice. He suspected that the police often sided with the highest bidder.
"They try to talk to the two parties, so the highest bidder wins," he stated.
