The manager of a Westlands hotel has revealed that armed robbers who stormed the establishment on Saturday night stole seven mobile phones and a laptop from customers before firing several shots as they fled.

The brazen robbery occurred at Chaiwali Café along General Mathenge Road and was captured by the hotel’s CCTV cameras.

The footage shows customers seated inside the café at around 10:34 p.m. when two motorcycles carrying the persons of interest arrived.

Two gunmen armed with pistols entered the premises, threatened customers, and moved from table to table, stealing seven mobile phones and a laptop before attempting to escape.

Targeting customers’ personal belongings

According to Chaiwali Café manager Bedar Ichami, the attackers appeared to have specifically targeted customers’ personal belongings.

“They targeted the personal effects of our clients because they just came, threatened people, and when our customers ran in, they started picking their phones and laptops and ran away with those items,” Ichami narrated on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

As the robbers fled, one suspect wearing a white T-shirt fired a shot, while another discharged his weapon towards the ground after reportedly being confronted by a security guard.

Witnesses said several gunshots were fired to intimidate those present before the gang escaped on the two motorcycles.

Phone snatching

Ichami said phone theft has become increasingly common around the establishment, affecting both customers and nearby businesses.

“Phone snatching affects us mostly. We have several clients here who have lost their phones. A client walks out, maybe speaking to somebody or ordering an Uber, and gets his phone snatched. It has affected us. You can’t just walk around speaking with your phone freely,” he added.

The incident has sparked concern among residents, with one local patron questioning the authorities’ response to rising insecurity.

“What’s the authorities doing about this? I see bodabodas breaking all the laws. They come from the opposite side of the road, and the traffic police are just there. They don’t do anything,” the resident said.

Detectives from Gigiri Police Division visited the scene on Saturday night, recovered spent cartridges and later returned to interview employees who witnessed the robbery.

Gigiri Police Commander confirmed that officers are pursuing the persons of interest who are believed to be operating as an organised criminal gang.

The latest attack comes barely a month after another robbery at a café in Westlands, raising fresh concerns over a growing trend of armed attacks targeting restaurants and their patrons in the area.