A 19-year-old bodaboda rider who allegedly accosted and robbed three people at gunpoint along Safari Park Road in Kasarani, Nairobi, has been remanded in custody after denying charges of violent robbery.
Ali Abdi is facing three counts of robbery with violence contrary to Section 295 read with Section 296 (2) of the Penal Code for allegedly robbing Faith Wambui, David Muchungu and Francis Mungai of their mobile phones and cash at about 11pm on 24 May.
Abdi is accused of robbing Ms Wambui of a mobile phone valued at Sh28,000. He is also accused of robbing Mr Muchungu of a mobile phone valued at Sh28,000 and Sh1,600.
In the third count, the suspect is also accused of robbing Mr Mungai of Sh28,000 and cash amounting to Sh2,500. Abdi is accused of using excessive force on the victims during the alleged robbery.
The three had left their workplace together and were walking towards Thika Superhighway to catch a matatu home when they met a bodaboda driver with two passengers.
After walking a few metres, they saw the same driver and his passengers approaching them and before they could make any move, they were all ordered to stop and lie down by the suspected gangsters, who had already brandished a pistol.
The three were ordered to hand over their mobile phones, cash and personal belongings while being threatened with the gun.
The suspected gangsters then fled on the same motorcycle after ransacking the bags of the three victims, but two of the robbery victims were able to get the registration details of the motorcycle used by the thugs.
A few days later, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) tracked and arrested Abdi on the motorcycle in the Kiamaiko area of Mathare sub-county, where he operates as a bodaboda driver. The motorcycle was kept by the police as evidence in the case.
Mr Abdi denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Eric Mutunga of Makadara Law Courts. He was remanded in custody pending a pre-trial report.
The social investigation report will be submitted to the court on 20 July, when the case will be mentioned before the trial begins on 18 October this year.
