Bodaboda operators have thwarted attempted car jarking in Matungulu, Machakos County. The irate riders saved a motorist who had been kidnapped by thugs along Nairobi-Kangundo road in Malaa on Wednesday. Confirming the incident, Matungulu assistant county commissioner James Nyegenye said the taxi driver was drugged by the criminals in the botched robbery.
Nyegenye said the gang of four, three men and a woman unsuccessfully attempted to steal the taxi operator’s car before they were intercepted by the bodaboda riders. He said the thugs had hired the taxi from Nairobi pretending to be on a land-buying mission in Matungulu Sub-county.
“They had boarded a taxi claiming that they were headed to view land in Matungulu only to drug the vehicle’s driver and tired him on a tree at Muting’a village,” Nyegenye said. Nyegenye said the bodaboda operators were alerted by a resident, member of the Nyumba Kumi initiative in the area.
“The man signaled the bodaboda operators after he discovered the victim tied on a tree, he saw the thugs speeding off,” Nyegenye said. .The gang was intercepted and overpowered by a mob after they attempted to escape. They were whisked by police officers after they were cornered and thoroughly beaten by the agitated locals.The taxi operator was identified as J.M Munyua. The thugs together with their victim were rushed to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital.