A university professor has been left destitute and traumatized after a meticulously planned ambush saw him lose Sh950,000 just minutes after withdrawing it from a bank.

The academic, whose identity is protected, walked into a trap he never saw coming. In a harrowing incident that exposes the growing insecurity in the capital, the professor was trailed by a gang of thieves from the banking hall to a construction site, where they struck with surgical precision, vanishing with the cash before he could even raise an alarm.

The Anatomy of a Setup

The victim had visited a bank to withdraw the substantial sum, intended for a project. Accompanied by a site manager, he drove to the location, parking his vehicle a mere 15 meters away from where they were inspecting the work. The money, packed in a bag, was left inside the locked car—a fatal error in a city where eyes are everywhere.

Police reports indicate the gang had likely spotted him inside the bank. They shadowed his vehicle through the city traffic, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. "He did not know the thieves were trailing him," a police source confirmed. "They knew exactly where the money was and how long they had."

A Pattern of Targeting

This robbery fits a disturbing pattern of "bank-following" crimes in Nairobi, where spotters inside banking halls communicate with gangs outside to target customers making large withdrawals. Security experts have long warned that the confidentiality of the banking hall is a myth, compromised by rogue elements or observant criminals posing as customers.

• The 15-Meter Gap: The thieves forced the car locks open while the professor was just steps away, grabbing the bag and speeding off in a waiting getaway vehicle.
• Police Investigation: Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage from the bank and the route to identify the vehicle used by the gang, though no arrests have been made so far.

The Citys Underbelly

The incident has sent shockwaves through the academic community and the public, serving as a grim reminder of the predators lurking in the city’s shadows. For the professor, the loss is not just financial but psychological—a violation of safety in broad daylight.

As investigations continue, the police are urging the public to use electronic transfers for large sums, warning that carrying cash in Nairobi is now akin to walking with a target on your back.