- The scene of the robbery is usually busy at that time and commotion may attract police attention
- Police suspect the attack was an inside job
Detectives are investigating claims by a Nairobi-based businessman that he was robbed of Sh12.9 million by gunmen on the busy Uhuru Highway.
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said detectives are probing the incident that occurred at about 12:53pm.
The scene of the robbery is usually busy at that time and commotion may attract police attention.
“We have a team to investigate the claims. The claims are not adding up for now,” he said.
“We always advise those handling such money to seek police services in moving the same,” Bungei added.
Hirsi Shire, a Forex Bureau trader, sought to exchange the cash in his bag for Kenyan currency.
Shire told police he boarded a motorbike from his business premises on Kaunda Street in Nairobi's Central Business District and headed for Westlands with $100,000.
He got to Westlands, exchanged the amount and boarded the same motorbike back to the CBD.
As they approached Utalii building along Uhuru Highway, they were intercepted by a white saloon vehicle a few metres from the roundabout.
The vehicle seemed to be waiting for or had been trailing them.
Two occupants alighted and held the duo at gunpoint, threatening to pull the trigger if they did not cooperate.
One of the individuals, according to Shire, snatched the bag and got back into the vehicle.
The car sped off.
The businessman and the rider tried to give a chase to the vehicle but to no avail.
Shire reported the matter to Central Police Station and officers visited and documented the scene.
Investigations have been launched to track the vehicle, retrieve the cash and nab the two suspects.
Police suspect the attack was an inside job as the attackers had prior information on the movement of the cash.