More than 100 mobile phones were reported stolen during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations held at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay. According to Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem, the thefts occurred primarily at night as large crowds were streaming into the venue for the national celebration.
The criminals reportedly took advantage of the dense gatherings and confusion at the stadium’s entry points to execute their thefts. “At entry points, the criminals would cause commotion that made people move from left to right, and during the process, they stole phones, wallets and other valuable items,” Koilem explained.
Among those affected were members of the public as well as journalists covering the event. Nation Media Group’s Homa Bay Correspondent, George Odiwuor, lost his phone at the gate, while another journalist lost a laptop during the chaos at the entrance. These incidents have raised concerns about security measures at large national events.
By Sunday evening, police had managed to arrest two suspects in connection with the thefts. They were found in possession of at least 12 stolen phones and a wallet. Commander Koilem noted that investigations are ongoing and that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over the case.
The police are now urging anyone who lost their phone or other valuables during the celebration to report the incident at the nearest police station. Authorities hope this will assist in reuniting victims with their lost property and in furthering the investigation.
Koilem assured the public that the security agencies are committed to bringing all the culprits to book and improving safety at future events. “We are working closely with the DCI and using all means necessary to identify more suspects and recover the remaining stolen items,” he stated.
The thefts have cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory national event, prompting calls for tighter security protocols in future public gatherings of such magnitude.
