By Dawan Africa - Admin
Kenya, 4 September 2026 — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has warned Kenyans against sharing unverified claims surrounding a viral video alleged to show a robbery along the Nairobi Expressway, saying preliminary investigations indicate that no robbery took place.
In a statement, the DCI said detectives from the Kilimani Police Station had identified and summoned the individuals seen in the video, including the person initially presented online as the victim, and recorded their statements.
According to the investigators, the accounts given did not support the robbery claims circulating on social media. The DCI said inquiries were still ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The video circulated widely on social media on September 3 and 4, showing several men approaching vehicles along a service lane of the Nairobi Expressway. Many viewers interpreted the footage as showing a robbery in progress, prompting concern over security along the busy road.
The claims also raised questions about how such an incident could occur on the controlled-access highway, which is operated by Moja Expressway Company.
Moja Expressway had earlier disputed the robbery narrative, explaining that the vehicles shown in the footage belonged to a political delegation that had briefly stopped to allow some of its occupants to change vehicles.
Police searches across Nairobi stations also failed to identify a robbery report corresponding to the incident shown in the video, further casting doubt on the claims circulating online.
The person initially described on social media as the victim was identified as Kasarani Member of Parliament Ronald Karauri, who has since clarified that the incident was not a robbery.
The DCI's warning comes amid growing concerns among Kenyan security agencies over the speed at which unverified information can spread online, particularly when it involves crime or public safety.
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In recent months, the DCI has issued similar warnings over misleading or unsubstantiated claims circulating on social media. In June 2026, the directorate flagged a widely circulated post as fake news and cautioned the public against spreading or believing unverified information.
In July, the DCI also dismissed social media claims about a supposed “shakehand” crime trend at the Coast and urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it.
The directorate also called for caution over information circulating during the Purity Njeri murder case in Murang’a after false narratives emerged about the case. In December 2025, the National Police Service separately warned Kenyans about fake police recruitment advertisements circulating on social media and advised the public to rely on official communication channels.
The repeated warnings highlight a broader challenge created by social media: dramatic videos and claims can reach large audiences before authorities have established what actually happened. By the time an official clarification is issued, an unverified version of an incident may already have been widely accepted as fact.
The Nairobi Expressway video is the latest example of how that process can unfold. What initially appeared online to many viewers as a serious security incident was later disputed by the road operator and investigated by police, with the DCI saying preliminary inquiries did not establish that a robbery had occurred.
The DCI has urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it online and encouraged anyone with credible information about suspected criminal activity to report it to the nearest police station.
The directorate also warned that circulating misleading or deliberately deceptive information could cause unnecessary public alarm and may carry legal consequences depending on the circumstances.
The DCI said it would provide further information as inquiries into the incident continue.