Residents of Makongeni in Thika have been urged to remain vigilant following reports of nighttime house raids by armed thieves in parts of the area.
The reported incidents have particularly raised concern among residents of Kisii Estate and the Power Line area, where suspects are alleged to be breaking into homes while armed with machetes, commonly known as pangas.
The attackers are reportedly stealing valuables, including cash, and accessing victims’ M-PESA accounts.
Residents have been advised to secure doors, windows and other possible entry points before going to bed. Where possible, households have also been encouraged to install security lights, alarms or CCTV systems and coordinate with trusted neighbours to improve security.
Residents have further been cautioned against keeping large amounts of cash in easily accessible places and urged to protect their mobile money accounts by keeping their PINs and one-time passwords private.
In the event of an encounter with armed intruders, residents have been advised to prioritise their safety and avoid confronting the suspects. They have also been urged to report incidents and suspicious activity to the police when it is safe to do so.
The advisory cautions residents against sharing unverified allegations or identifying suspected criminals on social media, urging them instead to pass credible information through appropriate security channels.
