Saika Was “Safe” — Until This Happened

A viral video showing an alleged armed robbery at a hair salon in Nairobi’s Saika estate has stirred public outrage, reigniting concerns over escalating violent crime in the city and prompting calls for security agencies to step in.

The footage, which surfaced online over the weekend, appears to show two armed men storming a salon where members of the Queen’s Women Chama had gathered for their regular fortnightly meeting. The robbery reportedly took place around 3 pm on Sunday, July 26. The clip’s authenticity and the full details surrounding the incident have not been independently confirmed.

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In the video, the two men are seen entering the salon and casually greeting the group of women before one pulls out a pistol, cocks it, and demands they hand over their phones. He is heard ordering the women to sit down and stay quiet as panic sets in. His accomplice, wearing a helmet, appears to bolt first as the screams grow louder. Several women, including one holding a child, are shown fleeing the salon.

The video ignited discussion online, with some residents expressing shock that such an incident could happen in an area they had long considered secure. Many users called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Police Service (NPS) to launch an investigation and address broader concerns about the spread of armed crime, with some warning that unchecked minor security lapses could eventually spiral into larger, systemic breakdowns in law and order.

Echoes of the Parklands Robbery

Several social media users compared the Saika case to a similar robbery at Chaiiwali Café along General Mathenge Road in the Westlands/Parklands area on July 4. In that incident, four armed men arrived on motorcycles and stormed the café’s outdoor seating area. Two of them initially posed as customers before drawing weapons and forcing diners to surrender their phones and electronics. Police reported that seven phones and a laptop were stolen during the raid, which lasted under a minute before the attackers fired shots into the air and fled toward Parklands.

Following investigations, several suspects were arrested in connection with the Parklands case. On July 13, police fatally shot a man in Joska believed to be a key suspect in that robbery, after he allegedly opened fire on officers who had traced him to his girlfriend’s residence.

Growing Calls for Security Crackdown

The Saika robbery has reignited concern among Nairobi residents over the circulation of illegal firearms and the use of motorcycles as getaway tools in robberies. Some residents pointed to areas like Kayole, Saika, Njiru, and Maili Saba, where criminals appear to be exploiting motorbikes to make quick escapes.

 

Members of the public are urging security agencies to intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks, seize illegal weapons, and respond more swiftly to robbery reports. Many expressed fear that petty criminal gangs are increasingly evolving into organized, dangerous groups capable of threatening public safety.

Residents also voiced frustration that routine activities — visiting a salon, shop, or market — are becoming increasingly risky due to the growing presence of armed criminals in public spaces, with some insisting that safeguarding citizens from such threats must remain a top priority for law enforcement.