Armed robbers shot dead an accountant at the Dock Workers Union and stole Sh1.5 million from him on Wednesday.
Samwel Kinanga was shot twice in the stomach as he tried to run away from the men before they snatched the money and cheques and fled.
Katana Kenga, a union trustee accompanying Kinanga, was shot and injured in the leg.
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The two union officials had arrived at the building with money meant to pay salaries and allowances for union officials.
Mombasa Urban Police Boss Eliud Monari, who is in charge of investigations, said CCTV cameras at the building have not been working since Tuesday. He confirmed that the thieves made away with Sh1.5 million, and said his officers are trying to unravel what happened.
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“Kinanga refused to surrender the money and that is why he was shot in the stomach. He succumbed immediately,” said Mr Monari.
Martin Kiema, a witness, said union employees saw the three gangsters pushing Kinanga and Kiema but they did not suspect they were thugs.
That is until they fired shots in the air to scare everyone.
“We did not suspects they were robbers until they shot in the air. They had hidden guns in their jackets,” Mr Kiema said.
“I saw the three robbers clad in heavy jackets pushing and shoving the union officials who tried to rush into the building, but they were followed and shot.”
He said when the guns went silent, they saw the three men running to a waiting motorcycle and sped off.
Kiema was among over 100 union employees waiting to be paid their January salaries.
Union General Secretary Simon Sang confirmed that the money was meant to pay salaries and allowances for union staff and officials.
Mr Sang who spoke to The Standard on phone from Nairobi, however, could not give credence to the amount that the police said was stolen.
“It is true some thieves snatched the money from our officials as they arrived from the bank. The money was meant to pay workers and union officials. However I am in Nairobi and I cannot tell how much was stolen,” said Sang.
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Related Topics
Dock Workers UnionSamwel KinangaRobbery
