2-hr delay in reporting Sh10.5m highway robbery haunts Nairobi trader

A two-hour delay in reporting a highway robbery now haunts an Indian national who claims he was accosted at gunpoint in Nairobi.

Mr Jaydeep Rajeshkumar Thanki, a foreigner who works for Kenmatch East Africa Ltd, he was flagged down by a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger on Prof Wangari Maathai Road, formerly known as Forest Road.

When he slowed down, Mr Thanki said the two drew out a pistol and demanded that he surrenders a bag he had in his car.

The incident occurred near Premier Academy on Monday at 6.30pm

The bag, he claimed, had Sh10.5 million he had collected from clients whom he said he supplied with merchandise.

In his statement, he told the police the gunmen sped off towards Pangani direction.

But police queried why Mr Thanki reported the robbery almost two hours later when the police station is less than 3km from the crime scene.

Of interest, the complainant said the money was insured despite claiming it was payment from an Eastleigh-based trader whom they had delivered undeclared merchandise to.

“He is a foreigner of certificate number 510063. He says he works for Kenmatch East Africa Limited.” One of the investigators privy with the ongoing probe said.

Police are keen to get statements from senior managers at Kenmatch East Africa Ltd and the undisclosed client in Eastleigh to authenticate the payment.

This comes amid rising cases of insurance fraud arising from fictitious claims.

On Tuesday, K24TV could not trace the office location of the said firm or any contacts of Thanki’s employer.

While police stopping shy of doubting Mr Thanki’s statements, they are more interested in establishing if the robbery was made up than pursuing leads to capture the armed robbers.

But if found to have lodged a false claim, Mr Thanki risks being charged with insurance fraud.

Early this month, Insurance Regulatory Authority officers attached to Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit foiled a falsified attempt to defraud Sanlam Insurance of Sh204 million.

Mr Anthony Maina Kiama, 29, is accused of lodging a false claim that his Thika-based company, Afroplast Industries, lost their manufacturing machines in a fire incident last year.

Investigators established the machine belonged to a different firm.