Gunmen storm Kayole salon, rob women's chama of Ksh.50,000

The attack happened at around 3pm, as members of the Queen's Women Chama gathered inside the salon for their routine meeting.

Surveillance footage captured the moment two men casually walked through the front doors, offering a calm greeting to the unsuspecting group before the meeting was disrupted.

The calm was shattered within seconds when one of the suspects, dressed in a dark top and a cap, reached into his waistband and pulled out a pistol. He cocked the firearm in plain view, sending the room into panic, while his accomplice stood guard at the door and the gunman ordered the terrified women to surrender everything.

"Tulikuwa tumeketi kama wamama na pesa iko kwa meza, sasa huyo mtu aliingia kama customer. Vile alianza kutukaribia ndio tulimshuku, kidogo akatoa pistol akataka kushoot na kusema kila mtu anyamaze na aweke simu kwa meza," said Philis Kimani, one of the victims.

The gunman took Ksh.50,000, part of the chama's contributions, along with a Samsung mobile phone.

"Walikuwa wawili, but tunashuku kuna mwenye alikuwa nao kwa pikipiki huko nje. Yule aliingia ndani alichukua 50k, tulikuwa tunataka kupeana loan. Tunataka tu polisi wafuatilie vizuri juu hawakuwa wamejificha uso," Kimani added.

After the robbery, the suspects escaped on a waiting motorbike. No injuries were reported during the ordeal, which lasted only minutes.

The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed fears over violent crime and armed gangs operating within residential estates across Nairobi.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) say they are following what they describe as good leads to track down the two gunmen, and have urged anyone with information on the suspects' identities or whereabouts to come forward.