What began as an ordinary trip home after a visit to the bank quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for Carolyn Jemutai and her friend Julius Langat after they were allegedly ambushed by armed men in Kitale.
The two had reportedly withdrawn a combined Sh1.7 million in cash from KCB Bank and DTB Bank in Kitale town on Friday at around 3 p.m., unaware that their movements would allegedly be followed by a group of attackers.
According to the information available, Jemutai and Langat later left the town in a silver Toyota Fielder, heading towards their estate.
However, as they approached their destination, their journey was abruptly interrupted.
Another silver Toyota Fielder reportedly intercepted their vehicle near the estate, forcing the two to confront a group of armed men who allegedly emerged from the vehicle.
One of the attackers reportedly pointed a gun at Langat before striking him with a metal rod. The sudden assault left the two victims vulnerable as the assailants allegedly demanded the money they had withdrawn from the banks.
The attackers reportedly made away with the entire Sh1.7 million in cash, turning what had been a routine banking trip into a devastating financial loss.
The gang also allegedly took several personal belongings from the victims, including a Tecno Camon 40 smartphone, a Tecno Camon 49 smartphone, three ATM cards and their national identification cards.
The incident has raised questions about how the attackers allegedly knew about the victims’ movements and the large amount of cash they were carrying.
Police have since launched investigations into the robbery and are pursuing leads that could help establish the identities and whereabouts of the suspects.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the victims’ bank withdrawals, their movements from Kitale town and the route they used before reaching their estate. The vehicle allegedly used by the attackers could also become an important part of the investigation as detectives work to establish its ownership and trace its movements.
Cases involving people being targeted shortly after withdrawing large amounts of cash have previously highlighted the dangers associated with carrying substantial sums of money in cash. Investigators will therefore be keen to determine whether the victims were deliberately targeted or whether the attackers acted on information obtained through another means.
For Jemutai and Langat, however, the incident has left more than just a financial loss. The reported use of a firearm and a metal rod turned their journey home into a frightening encounter, while the loss of their identification documents and bank cards adds another layer of concern.
Police have not indicated that any arrests have been made so far. Investigations remain ongoing as officers work to identify and apprehend those behind the alleged robbery.
The victims are expected to assist detectives with any information that could help reconstruct the events from the moment they left the banks until the reported ambush near their estate.
