- A suspected phone thief caused a dramatic scene in Makongeni, Thika, after climbing onto a house roof while fleeing residents
- A viral video shared on social media captured him moving carefully as a crowd gathered below, urging him to surrender
- The atmosphere was charged, reflecting the growing frustration among residents over repeated incidents of theft in the area
Residents of Makongeni in Thika were treated to a tense and dramatic spectacle after a suspected phone thief climbed onto the roof of a residential house in a desperate attempt to escape an angry mob.
Source: Facebook
The incident, which occurred opposite St Matias Mulumba Hospital in Phase 6, drew dozens of residents who surrounded the building, shouting and demanding that the suspect come down and face them.
How Thika suspect evaded capture
A video circulating widely on social media shows the young man cautiously walking along the rooftop, carefully placing each step to avoid falling through the structure.
He moves slowly from one end of the roof to the other, seemingly weighing his options as the crowd below grows louder and more agitated. From the footage, voices can be heard shouting in Swahili, urging him to surrender.
“Shuka chini upigwe! Msijaribu kuacha atoroke!” one voice shouts, which translates to, “Come down and face justice! Don’t let him escape!”
Witnesses said the suspect had allegedly been caught attempting to steal a mobile phone before fleeing into a nearby compound.
Why Thika residents wanted suspect captured
Cornered and unable to escape through conventional routes, he climbed onto the roof in a last-ditch effort to evade capture.
The crowd remained stationed around the house, some recording the unfolding drama on their phones while others shouted threats and demands.
The atmosphere was charged, reflecting the growing frustration among residents over repeated incidents of phone theft in the area.
Mobile phone snatching has become an increasing concern in many urban centres, including Thika, where residents say thieves often target unsuspecting pedestrians before disappearing into crowded neighbourhoods.
It was not immediately clear how the standoff ended or whether authorities arrived in time to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
Source: Facebook
Social media reactions
Kevin Omondi:
“These phone snatchers are making life very difficult for ordinary Kenyans. But mob justice is not the solution; he should have been handed over to the police.”
Mercy Wanjiku:
“Imagine risking your life like that just for someone’s phone. This shows how desperation and crime are destroying our youth.”
Brian Mutiso:
“Makongeni is becoming unsafe these days. Authorities need to increase patrols because residents are clearly frustrated and angry.”
Faith Achieng’:
“The crowd was angry, yes, but violence is not justice. Today it’s a thief, tomorrow it could be an innocent person wrongly accused.”
James Mwangi:
“He thought the roof would save him, but there is nowhere to hide forever. Let this be a lesson that crime does not pay.”
Police officer caught growing bhang
Meanwhile, a police officer attached to Ngoni Police Post in Makueni County fled after he was allegedly found cultivating bhang within police lines.
The officer, identified as Ramadhan Mwiti Nassir, reportedly broke free from colleagues who had attempted to restrain him and took off.
He then ran towards a nearby bush, prompting a chase by his colleagues, and despite the pursuit, he managed to evade arrest.
During the escape, the officer reportedly dropped one stem of the plant, which was collected and kept as an exhibit.
The incident was recorded under OB 05/22/2/2026 at Ngoni Police Post under Mbumbuni Police Station.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
