Avoid being mugged in Nairobi in 4 simple steps

It’s a pleasant evening after work. I stop by the salon, then swing through the supermarket to grab a few supplies before walking home. It’s about 7:30 p.m – the streets are well-lit and busy enough to make me feel secure.

As I approach a popular café on Raphta Road, just steps from my house, I hear the growl of a motorbike behind me. It’s on the sidewalk, not the main road. There’s an apartment block between us, so I assume the rider has business there.

To keep moving, I cross over toward the café entrance. With the bright overhead lights and a CCTV camera watching, everything feels safe.

Then it happens.

The motorbike veers toward me and stops right next to me, at the gate.

Before I can think, a hand grabs my shopping bag, and with it a small handbag looped tightly around my wrist. The straps won’t come off easily. As they take off, they drag me across the tarmac toward a dark intersection. Luckily, the bag finally slips free. They leave the shopping and disappear with the handbag into the night, taking my phones and my ID.

I don’t feel pain immediately, but can see the bruises on my hands.

I pull myself up, grab my shopping, and walk home – shaking. When I call my number, a man answers: “Ngoja kidogo,” then hangs up.

The next morning, I’m already limping and the pain on my knees can’t allow me climb stairs. I report the incident to the nearest police station just in case my ID or phones are used for crime. But the fear doesn’t fade – the scene keeps replaying in my mind over and over.

Walking around Westlands becomes a challenge – I keep glancing behind, half-expecting another attack. Every motorbike makes my breath hitch. When strangers approach, I cross over to the other side of the road. Eventually, I decide to move to another neighbourhood for peace of mind.

Looking back, I realize the situation could have been different if only I had tried to be more situationally aware.

Learning from this experience, here are four things you can do to avoid being mugged in Nairobi

Know what’s happening around you
Know your surroundings – avoid hotspots
Don’t carry valuables unnecessarily
Spot suspicious people and take cover

In conclusion, you can protect yourself and your belongings in Nairobi if you can be a little bit more situationally aware on the streets. Have you been in a similar situation?

Share your experience and what you learnt below.