Nairobi, Kenya — Detectives in Nairobi are investigating a daring daylight robbery in which a businessman lost Sh500,000 shortly after leaving a bank in the city’s Central Business District (CBD). The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, near the Kenya National Archives area — one of the busiest sections of the capital.
According to a police report, the victim and a colleague had earlier withdrawn Sh2.5 million from a commercial bank in the CBD. After completing the transaction, the two decided to part ways, each carrying a portion of the cash. The colleague is said to have proceeded toward Wabera Street with Sh2 million, while the victim walked toward Luthuli Avenue carrying Sh500,000.
However, moments later, near the Archives, the businessman was reportedly ambushed by a group of about ten unidentified individuals. The gang allegedly confronted him, grabbed the money, and fled in different directions before passersby could intervene.
Witnesses said the incident happened so quickly that the victim barely had time to react. In the confusion, he called out for help, but no one was immediately available to assist due to the shock and chaos that followed. Police officers responding to the distress call arrived shortly afterward and found the man visibly shaken and disoriented.
Authorities have since launched a full investigation into the robbery. Detectives from the Nairobi Central Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby buildings and traffic cameras to track the suspects’ movements. Investigators are also planning to interview bank staff who handled the withdrawal, as they suspect the attackers may have had prior knowledge of the transaction.
Preliminary reports suggest that the suspects could be part of a coordinated criminal ring that monitors customers withdrawing large sums of money from banks before trailing and ambushing them. Police have urged members of the public to be cautious and, whenever possible, to seek security escorts when carrying significant amounts of cash.
This latest incident adds to a string of similar robberies targeting businesspeople and traders leaving banks across the country. Earlier this month, police in Siaya County reported that a gold dealer was robbed of Sh1 million while travelling home with his wife along the Bondo–Siaya Road. Authorities believe the same criminal trend could be spreading to urban and rural areas alike, exploiting lapses in personal and financial security.
The Nairobi incident has sparked renewed debate about the safety of cash-based transactions in Kenya’s urban centers. Despite the growing adoption of digital payment platforms such as M-PESA and bank transfers, many traders and business owners continue to rely on physical cash for daily operations — often exposing themselves to risks of theft and violent robbery.
Security experts are now calling for enhanced collaboration between banks, law enforcement agencies, and private security firms to protect customers withdrawing large sums. They also advise businesses to use cash-in-transit services, digital banking options, or split transactions to reduce exposure.
Meanwhile, police have assured the public that they are pursuing crucial leads in the case. Detectives have intensified patrols in key parts of the CBD, including Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, and Luthuli Avenue, where similar cases have previously been reported.
No arrests have been made yet, but investigators remain optimistic that the ongoing forensic review of CCTV footage and mobile phone activity in the area will help identify the perpetrators.
The robbery serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of organized street crime in Nairobi, particularly targeting individuals handling large cash transactions. Police have reiterated their warning for citizens to exercise vigilance, avoid walking alone with large sums of money, and make use of electronic payment channels whenever possible.
As detectives continue with investigations, the businessman is receiving support from family and friends while assisting police with additional information that could aid in apprehending the suspects.