A chilling CCTV video capturing an armed robbery at a restaurant in Nairobi’s Westlands area has sparked outrage online, after two gunmen stormed the premises and robbed 17 diners in a swift, coordinated raid lasting less than a minute.
The incident occurred at Chai Restaurant on the night of Saturday, July 4, at around 10:35 p.m. Footage shows two men arriving outside the restaurant on motorcycles before walking in, one dressed in a white hoodie and the other in a blue jacket. Moments after entering, the pair drew firearms and ordered the seated customers to comply, moving quickly from table to table as terrified patrons watched.
The attackers were seen collecting mobile phones and other valuables from diners at gunpoint. One customer managed to slip out through the back door during the chaos, while others fled once they had already been robbed. A restaurant staff member who walked in partway through the raid was also threatened at gunpoint. A security officer stationed at the premises attempted to confront one of the armed men as they made their way to the exit but was quickly overpowered, since the attackers were armed and he was not.
By the time the pair reached the door, the entire robbery had taken roughly 30 seconds. As they fled, the robbers reportedly threatened to fire into the air to scare off bystanders before speeding away on their motorcycles. Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Ministry of Interior have been called upon to investigate the incident, though no official statement had been issued by the time of publication.
The robbery adds to growing concern over rising crime targeting public spaces in Nairobi. Similar disruptions have hit the city in recent weeks, including an incident on June 3 when suspected goons stormed Thika Road near Pangani, vandalizing property and causing heavy traffic before police intervened. On June 12, a public participation meeting on the 2026/2027 national budget, organized by the Kenya Human Rights Commission at All Saints Cathedral, was disrupted when a group forced their way in and attempted to snatch phones from attendees, forcing police to fire warning shots to disperse them.
The Chai Restaurant robbery has renewed public calls for heightened security around hotels, restaurants, and cafes in the capital, with many Kenyans questioning why armed criminals continue to strike public spaces with apparent ease.
