Night Guard Killed, KSh 2.5 Million in Liquor Stolen in Kahawa West Robbery

 

Residents crowd outside Rynic Liquor & Lounge as police move in to assess the scene following a reported incident.

In the early hours of Wednesday, December 3, 2025, a deadly robbery shook Kahawa West along Kamae Road when armed attackers broke into Rynic Liquor & Lounge, killing the night security guard and stealing goods worth approximately KSh 2.5 million. The store had only opened on November 20, 2025, under Nairobi City County’s branded outlet scheme.

The attackers struck around 4:00 a.m., disabling the CCTV cameras and removing the hard drive to cover their tracks. They overpowered the guard, estimated to be around 40 years old, restraining him before fatally assaulting him. After ransacking the store, the criminals loaded liquor and other valuables into a getaway vehicle and fled.

Neighbors alerted the store owner, Nicholas Mwongera, at around 7:00 a.m., prompting him to report the incident to the Kasarani Police Station. Mwongera said he had previously survived an attack by motorbike-riding assailants in the same area, highlighting growing insecurity in the suburb.

Authorities from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Kasarani Police quickly secured the scene. Forensic teams collected evidence, including CCTV footage from surrounding properties. No arrests have been announced so far, but investigations are focusing on potential links to a gang targeting liquor outlets across Nairobi and Kiambu County, which has caused losses exceeding KSh 50 million in at least 13 similar raids since early 2025.

The robbery comes amid rising attacks on liquor shops in Nairobi’s outskirts. Recent months have seen arrests of syndicate members involved in similar break-ins, and police have also raided illegal distilleries, seizing large quantities of unlicensed liquor. Despite these efforts, residents say inadequate lighting, poor policing, and socio-economic challenges continue to fuel violent crimes.

In response to the Kahawa West attack, community members are demanding stronger protection for night workers, increased street lighting, and intensified police patrols. Mwongera described the robbery as “meticulous and professional,” noting that the attackers seemed to know exactly how to dismantle the store’s defenses. As the DCI continues its investigations, residents remain anxious, hoping for arrests and long-term measures to address insecurity in the area.

Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: December 04, 2025