Puzzle of lost police guns, M-Pesa robberies and murders in Mumias

On Thursday, Roselyda Akinyi, a teacher and businesswoman, left her home in Khaunga Village for Mumias town in Kakamega County to withdraw money for her two M-Pesa businesses.

The mother of four left customers waiting at her shop, promising to return shortly after visiting the Co-operative Bank branch in Mumias to collect funds.

After successfully withdrawing Sh285,000, she boarded a motorbike to rush back and serve her clients, who were still waiting.

However, barely a kilometre from the bank, at an area known as Mwitoti, she was intercepted by a saloon car. Inside were four men, two of whom stepped out—one brandishing a firearm—and confronted Akinyi and the motorbike rider.

The assailants ordered her to hand over the money in her handbag. Unaware of the full danger she faced, Akinyi and the bodaboda operator attempted to resist. The rider was struck unconscious, and Akinyi, in her attempt to scream for help, was shot in the chest. She died instantly.

Nearby pedestrians fled in panic as the robbers seized the cash, returned to their vehicle, and sped off. The robbery, which occurred around 4pm, lasted just five minutes.

Akinyi, a teacher at Nderema Secondary School, became yet another statistic in a growing list of victims of violent armed robberies occurring in Mumias—both by day and night.

Her father-in-law, Abdalla Wawire, said the family received a distress call from the bodaboda rider, informing them of her death.

“Akinyi had gone to the bank as usual. We never imagined she would not return. At 4pm, I received a heartbreaking phone call that she had been shot dead by unknown assailants,” said Abdalla.

The 75-year-old revealed that for the past five months, his son’s family had been living in constant fear due to multiple attempted murders and abductions.

“Last month, my son, who owns and operates the M-Pesa shops, was abducted by unidentified men in a Subaru. They claimed to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Westlands, Nairobi. They detained him for four days before releasing him after the family paid Sh265,000, which the men had demanded,” he said.

Wawire appealed to the government to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We want to know who these people are—using guns to rob and kill innocent civilians in the name of the law. We demand answers and justice for Roselyda,” he urged.

“The alleged DCI officers abducted my brother, saying they were investigating fraudulent transactions. They claimed clients had lost money while withdrawing funds at his shops,” said Ismael Wawire, the deceased’s brother-in-law.

He explained that during the supposed investigation, the abductors demanded Ali’s personal banking information, including PINs.

The family also recalled a similar incident in December 2023 when Ali was abducted after withdrawing Sh260,000. He was later found injured near River Yala in Sabatia, Butere Constituency. “Clearly, there’s a well-coordinated criminal gang targeting small business owners. We are urging Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene and investigate whether rogue officers or even bank insiders are colluding with these gangs,” said Ismael.

However, Mumias East Sub-County OCPD Doris Chemos told The Standard that police have made progress in the investigation.

“We’ve gathered crucial information, recorded statements, and reviewed CCTV footage from the Co-operative Bank. I urge residents to stay calm; we are committed to ensuring their safety,” said Chemos.