In a heart-wrenching incident that has shocked a student residency at Thika. The small ‘comrades‘ community is reeling from the loss of one Hilda Kabangi.
The unfortunate news was seen on a Facebook post by UGI Media, revealing the devastating outcome of Hilda’s ill-fated attempt to cross to the next balcony from one building to the next, resulting in a fatal fall from the building.
The comrade community has been left in mourning, with an outpouring of support and condolences flowing as Hilda’s bereaved family and friends are still being sought.
With details surrounding the incident still shrouded in mystery, numerous questions linger unanswered.
Authorities are gearing up to launch a thorough investigation to shed light on the circumstances that led to this tragic event. Heightened concerns regarding safety measures within the building have been sparked, underscoring the critical importance of stringent protocols in residential environments.
We will update you when we will get more on this developing story.
Prezzo, a Kenyan rapper and businessman, has made shocking revelations about his past, admitting that he was a member of the Mungiki sect for 9 years. Mungiki is a Kikuyu-based criminal gang that was founded in the early 1990s. The group is known for its violence and extortion, and has been implicated in a number of high-profile crimes, including murder and rape. We recently delved deeper into Mungiki’s atrocities committed 8n Central Kenya during its prime.
In an interview with a Kenyan news outlet, Prezzo said that he joined the Mungiki when he was just a teenager. He said that he was attracted to the group’s power and sense of belonging. However, he soon realized that the Mungiki was not the kind of organization that he wanted to be a part of.
“I saw a lot of bad things happening in the Mungiki,” Prezzo said. “I saw people being killed, and I saw women being raped. I realized that this was not the kind of life that I wanted to live.”
Prezzo said that he left the Mungiki after 9 years, but that it was a difficult process. He said that he was threatened and harassed by the group, but that he was eventually able to break free.
Prezzo’s admission that he was a former Mungiki member has caused a stir in Kenya. Some people have praised him for his honesty, while others have criticized him for glorifying the group. However, Prezzo has said that he is simply trying to tell his story and help others who may be trapped in the Mungiki.
“I want people to know that there is a way out of the Mungiki,” Prezzo said. “I want them to know that they can have a better life.”
Prezzo’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of gang involvement. It is also a story of hope and redemption. It shows that even those who have made mistakes can change their lives and become productive members of society.
Maina Njenga and the Mungiki
Maina Njenga is the founder and leader of the Mungiki sect. He is a controversial figure, and has been accused of inciting violence and hatred. Njenga has denied these allegations, and has said that the Mungiki is a peaceful organization that is dedicated to protecting the Kikuyu people.
The Mungiki has been implicated in a number of high-profile crimes, including the murder of several Kenyan police officers. The group has also been accused of extortion and racketeering.
Despite its criminal activities, the Mungiki has a significant following among the Kikuyu people. Many Kikuyus see the Mungiki as a protector of their community.
The Mungiki remains a powerful force in Kenya, and its relationship with the government is complex. The government has cracked down on the group in recent years, but the Mungiki has remained resilient.
Prezzo’s admission that he was a former Mungiki member is a significant development. It shows that even those who have been involved in the group are willing to speak out against it. This could be a sign that the Mungiki’s grip on the Kikuyu community is weakening.
In a real-life tale that reads like a Hollywood heist script, the Murakaru Brothers: Halford Munene Murakaru and Charles Mwangi Murakaru, university graduates from Kenya, managed to pull off an audacious bank robbery that involved digging a tunnel into the vault of a KCB Bank and making away with a staggering Ksh 52 million (approximately $520,000). This remarkable story takes us through their journey from a humble upbringing to their daring escapade.
A Humble Beginning
The two brothers were born in Karura Village in Mathira, Nyeri County. Despite a two-year age gap, Halford was born before Charles. According to their parents, the age difference did not deter them from forming an unbreakable bond. Titus Murakaru and Esther Nyaguthi, their hardworking parents, raised them with values and instilled in them the importance of education.
A Scholarly Duo
The Murakaru Brothers proved to be exceptional students. Halford, the elder sibling, set the academic pace and cultivated a culture of reading at home, a habit Charles quickly adopted. Their academic excellence led them to excel in their exams and secure admission to the prestigious Nyeri High School. This feat was reminiscent of the former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, who had also attended the same school.
At Nyeri High, the brothers continued to shine, scoring straight As in their exams, which eventually paved the way for them to join Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology. At the university, they both graduated with degrees in Agricultural Engineering, a significant accomplishment in their academic journey.
From Education to Unemployment
After their graduation, the harsh realities of life hit them hard. They found it incredibly challenging to secure employment, a stark contrast to the belief that “Education is the key.” Desperate for financial stability, the brothers turned to fraudulent activities under the guise of car sellers. Although this provided some income, their ambition and high aspirations left them wanting more.
The Daring Plan
Determined to achieve more significant financial success, the Murakaru Brothers decided to carry out a bank robbery. However, their approach was nothing like the traditional bank heists that involve guns and violence. They chose a more intricate, calculated method inspired by high-profile international heists, such as the Brazilian Bank Tunnel Robbery and El Chapo’s tunnel escape.
Photo/Netflix
Photo/Courtesy
The brothers settled on a plan that was bloodless, reflective of their high IQ, and promised substantial rewards. To execute their plan, they enlisted the help of two friends, Julius Ndung’u Wanaina, a graduate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nairobi, and Shem Kirimi, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology at the time.
The Greatest Heist in Kenya
Together, they set out to stage one of Kenya’s most daring heists. First, they identified a target bank with a significant security lapse they could exploit. Their choice was KCB Thika, which had a notable blind spot on its rear side with no CCTV cameras. It was the perfect catch for their audacious plan.
In June 2017, they rented three stalls using fake IDs in a building located just 30 meters from the bank. These stalls became the front for their bookshop business, a brilliant cover for their illicit activities. They financed their covert operation by using the proceeds from their fraudulent car-selling venture. With Ksh 168,000 in advance rent for six months, they set out to dig a tunnel.
Operation ‘Tunneldrop’
With the necessary resources, they purchased the tools needed for the underground tunnel, including hoes, a welding gas cylinder, a gas mask, planks of wood for tunnel support, sacks for soil disposal, cartons for concealing the excavated soil, overalls, a spirit level, and a battery with an inverter to illuminate the tunnel during their audacious heist.
During the day, they operated the bookshop, where they displayed books and printers, all part of their cover. At the same time, they took turns digging the underground tunnel and discreetly filling the sacks with soil. The entire operation was carried out meticulously under masks and dim lighting conditions to maintain their cover. They used the soil-filled cartons to transfer the earth without raising suspicion.
Materials and tools used in Digging the tunnel. Photo/Courtesy KCB Thika. Photo/Courtesy
The Night of the Heist
The Murakaru Brothers and their team toiled for six months to dig the tunnel, inching ever closer to their target, KCB Bank’s strong room. They rented a one-bedroom house in Juja to store some of their loot. Finally, on the night of Sunday, November 19, 2017, their tunnel reached the bank’s strong room.
Using oxyacetylene welding from their gas tank, they penetrated the bank’s vault and made off with a jaw-dropping Ksh 52 million. Their loot included not only Kenyan Shillings but also foreign currencies: 95 Australian Dollars, 185 Euros, 1630 Pounds, 5781 USD, 271K Tanzanian Shillings, 940K Ugandan Shillings, 40 South African Rand, and 5 Canadian Pounds.
The Brazen Getaway
In a move that set them apart from conventional thieves, the Murakaru Brothers didn’t flee the country immediately. Instead, they returned to their homes in Marurui Estate, Kasarani, awaiting the country’s reaction to their audacious crime. Their belief that they could remain anonymous was soon to be tested.
Shem Kirimi, one of their accomplices, chose a different path. However, what the group did not know was that a snitch lived among them. A neighbor who had been observing their suspicious behavior reported them to the police, a week after the heist. It’s unclear why the thieves remained in the area for that long, but their capture was imminent.
The Arrest and Recovery
The Murakaru Brothers and Julius were arrested in their house in Marurui. During their arrest, police discovered SIM cards and stolen IDs, which led to the revelation of the location where they had stashed the money. The recovery included Ksh 17,135,000, 1311 US dollars, 340 Great Britain Pounds, 5 Canadian Dollars, 85 Australian Dollars, 46,000 Tanzanian Shillings, 40 South African Rand, and 20,000 Ugandan Shillings. However, approximately Ksh 20 million from the heist remained unaccounted for.
The trio was arraigned in court and later released on a Ksh 4 million bond. Shem Kirimi, who had initially managed to evade capture, was arrested a week later in Mtwapa. To this day, Ksh 20 million remains unaccounted for, making this audacious bank robbery one of Kenya’s most remarkable and mysterious criminal escapades. The story of the Murakaru Brothers, who went from scholarly excellence to an audacious heist, stands as a testament to the lengths to which individuals can go in pursuit of their ambitions, for better or for worse.
