Drama ensued on Thursday mid-morning along Kenyatta avenue, when angry residents took matters into their own hands, storming into a tent that has been accused of conning residents through a cunning gambling game.

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, *Ann operating a shop at Lydia Arcade complex notes that five boda bodas’ each ferrying two people, stormed the tent and started assaulting those operating the gambling game .

‘We saw people jump from the Boda Bodas and the next thing was a man shouting, ‘mwizi mwizi….’ All those involved in the games ran for their safety in all directions. The group who attacked the business operators had come from a second pata potea game operating in front of Kanu house, having disrupted that group as well,” she narrates.

A crowd stares at damaged items from the gambling game that was being played along Kenyatta Avenue on October 31, 2024.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

She notes that from her shop she has witnessed several people crying at the spot after losing money at the game.

“Just two days ago, an old man lost Sh 40,000 to the game. He wailed trying to get the attention of people. However, nobody came to his rescue.

When Mtaa Wangu arrived at the scene around noon, we found angry residents destroying the electronics that were used to lure people into playing the game.

Ruffle cards used by individuals who run a gambling business along Kenyatta avenue strewn on the ground after residents demolished the tent on October 31, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Remnants of a 55-inch TV, woofer and pieces of plastic chairs, were lying on the road. Cards and a receipt book indicating what people had won were also scattered on the ground.

At the scene, we met Zipporah Mukhwana, who had allegedly been scammed of Sh 2,800 after playing the game in hopes of walking away with the woofer that she had been told her card had won or the alternative Sh 30,000 cash prize award.

Ms. Mukhwana notes she is happy that the public has taken action into their hands, seeing that police officers and county enforcement officers walked past the place and never helped anyone.

Zipporah Muhkwana, during an interview after allegedly losing Sh 2,800 from the gambling game along Kenyatta avenue on October 31, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“After I was conned, I saw a police officer walk past me and I was just wailing that I had been conned. Many around me said no one would come to my aid, especially police who were allegedly eating a slice of the pie from the business operations, “she laments, noting this as the reason she did not report her case at the police station.

On Tuesday this week, Mtaa Wangu published a story that questioned the legality of the business operation.

In our investigations, we learnt that the operators had landed their second, three - month permit through a court order that directed the Nakuru County Betting Control Department to renew their contract.

In a Previous interview, the Nakuru County Gaming Inspector had shared with Mtaa Wangu, that it was difficult to halt the business operations in the city centre since they had a permit to operate.

Passers-by collect remnants of chairs that were broken after a group demolished a tent that was carrying out gambling along Kenyatta avenue on October 31, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

He however mentioned, contrary to their operation guidelines to operate between 10am to 10 pm, they group would start their operations too early.

He further noted that they were planning to work alongside security operators to have the individuals ousted from the city center.

In regards to today’s incident, Nakuru East Sub-County Police commander Mohammed Wako, notes that neither the business operators nor victims of the alleged scamming operation have reported what transpired at the scene.

The untouchable con artists of Kenyatta Avenue and why police and county seem to be powerless to stop them

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Leleti Jassor