Concerns are growing over rising insecurity in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), with social media users warning that armed robbers have intensified their attacks on unsuspecting pedestrians, especially university students reporting for admission.

Several Nairobi residents have taken to X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok to share harrowing experiences of muggings, often carried out in broad daylight or shortly after 6 p.m.

Victims say the gangs, usually operating in groups of four to six, brandish crude weapons such as knives and iron bars to intimidate passersby before demanding valuables.

“These thugs are everywhere in town, especially around Moi Avenue, Globe Roundabout, and near bus stages,” one user posted.

“They know new students are coming with new phones and laptops, and that’s who they’re targeting.”

Students and Commuters at High Risk

The beginning of the new academic year has seen thousands of first-year students trooping into the city to join universities and colleges. Many carry brand-new smartphones, laptops, and tablets—gadgets that make them easy prey for criminal gangs.

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Several parents have also expressed concern that their children, unfamiliar with Nairobi’s streets, are the most vulnerable.

Commuters have also reported that Nairobi’s CBD becomes increasingly unsafe after dusk. From 6 p.m. onwards, isolated alleys, poorly lit bus stops, and overcrowded areas turn into hotspots for robberies.

“Walking in town past 6:30 p.m. is a nightmare. You’re either robbed, cornered by gangs, or harassed. It feels like the city is being taken over,” another Nairobi resident lamented.

Call for Action

Critics argue that the presence of officers is limited to a few visible spots, leaving many areas exposed.

Business owners, especially those running shops along Tom Mboya Street and River Road, say the insecurity is scaring away customers. “People now prefer to leave town early. We close shop by 6:30 p.m. to avoid trouble,” a trader told Mpasho.

Social commentators have urged authorities to act swiftly before the situation escalates further. They are calling for increased police patrols, installation of more street lights, and deployment of plainclothes officers to curb muggings.

As the admissions season continues, parents are being advised to caution their children about movement within the CBD, avoid walking alone at night, and use trusted public transport routes.