Police officers in Nairobi have shot dead a suspected mobile phone thief following a botched robbery attempt in the Mirema area of Kasarani.
According to authorities, the incident happened on Saturday evening along Mirema Road when two men riding on a motorcycle allegedly tried to snatch a mobile phone from a woman walking by the roadside. The victim screamed for help, alerting nearby patrol officers who quickly rushed to the scene.
In the ensuing confrontation, police intercepted the suspects, leading to an exchange that left the motorcycle rider fatally shot. His accomplice managed to flee on foot and is currently being sought by the police. A mobile phone believed to have been stolen shortly before the confrontation was recovered from the deceased suspect. The getaway motorcycle has since been towed to Kasarani Police Station for forensic examination, while the suspect’s body was taken to the city mortuary pending identification and a post-mortem.
Police say the incident highlights the growing challenge of mobile phone theft across Nairobi, particularly in busy areas such as Kasarani, Roysambu, and Zimmerman. Despite intensified patrols and crackdowns, phone snatching remains one of the most common street crimes in the capital.
Investigators note that many stolen phones are either sold to unsuspecting buyers or dismantled and refurbished before being resold locally or smuggled into neighbouring countries. Authorities have warned the public to be cautious when purchasing second-hand phones, as buyers found in possession of stolen property risk arrest and prosecution.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Githurai 44, police have launched investigations into the mysterious death of a woman who collapsed and died along Kiangiciri Road on Saturday. Witnesses told police that the woman, who had a visible fresh wound on her leg, suddenly fell by the roadside. Paramedics who responded to emergency calls pronounced her dead at the scene. The cause of the injury and her sudden death remain under investigation. Her body was moved to the mortuary for identification and post-mortem examination.
Elsewhere, in Kilifi County, detectives are probing the discovery of skeletal remains believed to belong to a woman who disappeared on May 23, 2025. Family members identified the remains through her clothing. Police suspect foul play and have expressed concern over the rising number of homicide cases in the region, especially those targeting elderly residents. Investigations are ongoing.
