Hi All
Most of us are already aware of the security issues in Nairobi but just to remind you all about few things to be aware of..
1.) Recently I was attacked in my car by the 'Parking Boys' on the chiromo road while taking a U turn to go towards the River side drive. It was not so late in the night, may be around 9:30 pm. 'Parking Guys' are the people who live in the tunnel starting from the Uhuru highway till the chiromo road. All they want is either the stuff kept on your backseat or a specific part of your car which they get an order for. For ex: If they see you driving a PRADO and they have a pending order to supply the side mirror of that particular model, they'd come and try to take it away. Just be careful whenever you slow down your car. I was lucky since I didn't bother if I get hit by some other car or if I hit any of those parking guys, I just speed up and ran away (that is after they tried to hit my window mirror and in the process only ended up giving a dent on the side door).
2.) The SHIT BEGGARS- They say they used to be on the nairobi roads 3-4 years back but guess what.. They ARE BACK!! Shit beggars, as the name suggests are a group of beggars who'd come to your car while you wait at the traffic signal and ask for money. In case your reaction is negative, they bring forward their other hand which would be full of SHIT and if you still dont pay them their "well deserved" money, they'd throw it on your pants/skirt/Suit or whatever ur wearing.
Now for obvious reasons, you're left with 2 choices
a.) Drive your car with the windows closed.
b.) Pay them whatever change you have to avoid embarrassment and a scary-smelly-shitty experience.
PS:- This happened to one of my colleagues and interestingly he is a Kenyan-Kenyan, not an expat; not any other race born in Kenya. If this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone of us.
God Bless!!