Homa Bay residents who couldn't make it inside the Raila Odinga Stadium followed the Madaraka Day celebrations from one of the mounted screens along the streets of Homa Bay.
What was meant to be a joyous celebration of Madaraka Day in Homa Bay Town turned into a nightmare for scores of attendees as a wave of theft swept through the early morning crowd at Raila Odinga Stadium.
As thousands gathered in the dark hours before dawn to secure a spot for President William Ruto’s address, pickpockets blended effortlessly into the crowd, leaving a trail of vanished phones, wallets, and valuables in their wake.
By Sunday evening, the Homa Bay police station was overwhelmed with more than 100 reports of theft turning a day of national pride into one of personal loss for many. Most of the thefts occurred between 3am and 6am as crowds streamed into the stadium under the cover of darkness.
According to police, thieves used distraction tactics to trigger minor commotions at entry points. The confusion prompted attendees to jostle, step back, or surge forward creating the perfect cover for swift pickpocketing.
Retired Principal Chief Joshua Ochogo was among the victims. The former administrator had arrived at the stadium around 5am to listen to President Ruto’s speech.
“Everything seemed orderly at first. Then a minor commotion broke out at the gate,” Mr Ochogo said.
He had a Samsung phone and Sh26,000 in cash in his pocket, funds he planned to use later that day. He only noticed the items were missing after reaching the terraces.
Homa Bay residents who couldn't make it inside the Raila Odinga Stadium followed the Madaraka Day celebrations from one of the mounted screens along the streets of Homa Bay.
“It was only then that I realised my pockets were empty,” he said.
Men and women crowded the police station later in the day to report stolen phones. Some women said their handsets were snatched straight from their hands.
Journalists were not exempted either, as NTV Reporter George Kieru lost his laptop while entering the stadium. He was carrying a backpack with a laptop, camera, and tripod stand.
“I had no idea someone had opened the bag. By the time I realised it, the huge crowd had swallowed the culprit,” he said.
Police later arrested two suspects found with 12 mobile phones and a wallet. The suspects reportedly failed to explain how they came into possession of the items.
An announcement was made during the celebrations urging victims to visit the police station to identify any recovered property.
County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is handling the cases and working to trace the stolen devices.
“We encourage anyone who lost a phone to report to the station,” Koilem said.
Some victims have already visited the station in hopes of reclaiming their property.
A similar spate of thefts occurred in July 2022 during a campaign rally for then-presidential candidate Raila Odinga, where even MPs and opinion leaders were targeted.
