Two Nairobi women have been charged in court after allegedly drugging and robbing a well-known businessman from Ruai. The suspects appeared before a Nairobi magistrate, facing charges of administering a stupefying drug with intent to steal and theft.
According to police, the suspects are part of a group commonly referred to as “mchele babes.” The term is not their real name but a popular street phrase used to describe women who lure unsuspecting men, secretly put drugs in their drinks to make them unconscious, and then rob them of money and valuables.
Reports indicate that the businessman met the two women at a popular entertainment club along Thika Road over the weekend. They engaged him in friendly conversation and later shared drinks together. The man then invited them to his Ruai home to continue the party. Moments after taking a drink offered by one of the women, he lost consciousness.
He reportedly woke up the next morning feeling weak and disoriented. His two mobile phones, a gold watch, and more than Ksh 180,000 in cash were missing. The women had already fled.
The businessman reported the incident to Ruai Police Station. Detectives reviewed CCTV footage from the club and nearby areas, which helped them track the suspects to Kayole estate. They were arrested, and some of the stolen items were recovered.
In court, the two women denied the charges. The prosecution requested that they be denied bail, saying they were likely to flee and were linked to similar complaints in the city. The magistrate ordered them remanded at Lang’ata Women’s Prison until the case is mentioned again next week.
Police have since warned the public to be careful while socializing in bars and clubs, especially when accepting drinks from strangers. Authorities say cases of “mchele” drugging incidents have sharply increased in Nairobi and other major towns in recent months.
By Nairobi