Three siblings were seriously injured when a panga-wielding robber attacked them along the Southern bypass, Nairobi as they were driving from their rural home on Saturday night.
Another sibling who was with them escaped unhurt after she locked herself inside the car.
The incident happened after a gang set up stones on the road that deflated their car tyres forcing them to step out to attend to the puncture oblivious of the dangers waiting for them.
The elder sister, who was driving sustained a cut on the face and a fracture while two of her brothers were cut on the chest and neck, and neck respectively.
The two brothers passed out immediately after the cut.
The four family members were travelling from Bomet to Nairobi and on reaching the spot, she lost control of the vehicle after the vehicle in front swerved.
Their vehicle hit a stone and two tyres burst from the impact.
Police and the family said the driver moved the vehicle to the side of the road and as they were removing the luggage from the boot to access the portable tyre inflator, a lone man wielding a panga confronted them.
“I pleaded with the robber to pick whatever he wanted since our car boot was open. He opened the car and picked up my bag and a few items before he disappeared,” she said.
However, a few minutes later, the robber returned and demanded their mobile phones and other valuables.
The family was robbed of two mobile phones, Sh2,000, two laptops, a PlayStation, and ATM cards among other items.
The lady then crossed the road and alerted other motorists on the other side to come to their rescue.
As she was busy seeking help, the daring robber surfaced again but by this time other motorists had arrived at the scene and later rushed her and the two brothers to the hospital.
“My two brothers passed out and lay on the ground. I was also bleeding from the cut on the face and later learnt at the hospital that I had sustained a fracture,” she said.
Lang'ata Sub-County Police Commander (SCPC) Monica Kimani said three suspects were arrested inside the forest a few metres from where the attack took place.
However, it is not clear if any of them are linked to the attack.
The victims who are in hospital described the robber as a man aged between 25 and 30, adding that he did not conceal his face.
Kimani said the place was deserted as a section of the Southern bypass had been closed for repairs until January 5.
This is suspected to have contributed to the incident.
The road is however notorious for such attacks from gangs who at times set up spikes and boulders for robberies.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announced the temporary closure of the section from Ole Sereni Interchange to Ngong Road Interchange from December 24 to allow for the rehabilitation of the expansion joints of all the bridges along the affected section.
“The matter is under investigation and the suspects will be subjected to an identification parade once the victims are discharged from the hospital,” Kimani said.
Following the recent cases of robberies reported along the bypass, Kimani said adequate officers including undercover detectives have been deployed using both marked and unmarked cars.
The victims have also asked the police to investigate how their vehicle, which was towed to Langata police station was vandalized while at the station’s yard.
