Thugs hold up family

By DAPHNE WANI
A FAMILY were traumatised after four men armed with a shotgun held them up at Cowboy Street, Erima in the National Capital District (NCD) yesterday.
The family were on their way from Malolo Estate in 8-Mile to St Peters Catholic Church at Erima when the armed gang attacked them at about 7:30am yesterday.
Joanne Kundiri from Kagua, Southern Highlands, told The National that she was shocked from the incident because she wasn’t expecting criminals to appear in the middle of the road.
She said her two daughters, aged 10 years and eight years, were also traumatised from the incident.
Kundiri’s husband Paul described the act as very ‘heartless’ and said the gunman stood in front of the road blocking it off from the first junction before turning left towards the Kumul Fly Over.
Kundiri could not reverse or turn because there were drains on both sides of the road.
The gunman allegedly aimed the shotgun at her forehead.
Kundiri let go off the steer in fear and put her hands above her head and moved out of the car.
The car veered off the road and went into the drain when the other three men snatched Kundiri’s hand bag, mobile phone and fled the scene.
“They were aiming for the car but after the car went into the drain, it was of no use,” Kundiri said.
Paul Kundiri confronted the gunman and wrestled the gun from him.
The gunman fell into the drain and escaped.
“The community was very helpful and they co-operated with us. The community acted very fast and identified the suspects and they returned the bag and other items,” he said.
His wife appealed to all potential street thugs to show respect for women and children and allow them to move around freely without fear.
“As a woman, mother and victim I am appealing to all youths to make the community safe for everyone of us to live in and enjoy the peace,” she said.
“We are all struggling to survive in the city regardless of our economy problem.”
She also thanked the community leaders at Erima for assisting them.
The family filed a report at the Gordon Police Station yesterday.