A robbery at a home in Nakuru took an unexpected turn when one of the attackers later contacted the house help he had encountered during the raid.
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A Kenyan domestic worker in a home learning practical safety measures, including how to respond to emergencies, protect the household, and stay safe while working.
The house help informed the police. Officers encouraged her to continue communicating with the suspect, and the planned meeting eventually helped police arrest him.
It is an unusual story, but there is a much more important lesson behind it: house help safety in Kenya matters because domestic workers can find themselves directly exposed to danger when a home is attacked.
What happened in the Nakuru robbery?
The incident happened in Bahati, Nakuru County, in March 2017. According to court records and contemporary reporting, a group of men raided the home of a farmer and businessman during the night.
The attackers held members of the household hostage and stole various items, including mobile phones and other property.
The house help was also among the people caught up in the robbery.
One of the attackers, identified in court proceedings as Kelvin Matundura, had interacted with the house help during the incident and obtained her phone number.
The following day, he contacted her. According to the reported evidence, he apologised and provided information about where the stolen vehicle had been left. He also asked her to meet him.
She informed the police.
Police officers then advised her to continue communicating with him, and she agreed to meet him at a hotel in the Mchanganyiko area of Nakuru. Officers were present and arrested him at the meeting.
The case later went through the courts. In a 2025 High Court judgment concerning the appeals, the court records confirm that Matundura and Joram Njoroge Wainaina had been convicted in connection with the robbery and other offences.
The unusual part of the story attracted attention because the suspect's decision to contact the house help after the robbery ultimately gave investigators an opportunity to locate him.
But for domestic workers and employers, the bigger issue is what to do when a robbery happens in a home.
What should a house help do during a robbery?
The first rule is simple: protect your life.
A house help should not be expected to fight armed criminals or take unnecessary risks to protect household property.
If criminals enter a home, the safest response will depend on the situation. A worker should avoid sudden movements, arguments or actions that could make the attackers more aggressive.
If the criminals demand a phone, money or other property, those items are generally not worth risking someone's life over.
A house help should also avoid trying to secretly follow, confront or identify criminals if doing so creates additional danger.
The aim is to get through the incident safely.
What should happen after the robbers leave?
Once the attackers have gone and everyone is safe, the household should contact the police.
A house help may remember useful details such as:
The number of people involved
Clothing they were wearing
Their voices or accents
Weapons they carried
The vehicle they used
Where they entered or escaped
Names or words used during the robbery
Items that were stolen
It is better to write down these details as soon as possible because memories can become unclear after a frightening event.
The household should also avoid unnecessarily touching or moving objects that could be important to investigators.
Should a house help contact a robber afterwards?
The Nakuru case should not be treated as advice for domestic workers to contact criminals themselves.
The important difference is that, in this case, the house help had already informed the police and was communicating with the suspect with police guidance.
If a person involved in a crime later calls, sends messages or asks to meet, the safer approach is to inform the police rather than arranging a private meeting.
A domestic worker should never assume that a criminal who sounds friendly on the phone is no longer dangerous.
The same applies to employers. A strange call from someone connected to a previous robbery should be treated seriously.
Employers should prepare house helps for emergencies
Home security should not be discussed only with the employer.
House helps, nannies, caregivers, cleaners and other domestic workers are often inside the home when the employer is away. They therefore need to understand basic emergency procedures.
Employers can make this easier by giving workers clear information about:
Emergency phone numbers
How to contact the employer
Where the home's security equipment is located
What to do if an unfamiliar person tries to enter
What to do during a break-in
Who should be contacted after an emergency
Where children should stay during an emergency
This does not require complicated security training.
Even a short conversation can help a worker know what is expected instead of trying to make decisions while frightened.
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A Kenyan domestic worker learning practical safety and emergency procedures for working safely in a private home. |
House help safety is part of home security
When families hire domestic workers, security is sometimes discussed only in terms of checking references and verifying identity.
Those checks are important, but safety goes further.
Employers should also make sure that domestic workers know how to respond to emergencies. Workers should similarly understand that they have a responsibility to report suspicious activity rather than ignoring it.
A safe home depends on communication between everyone living and working there.
The Nakuru robbery is remembered because of the unusual way the suspect was eventually arrested. But the more useful lesson is straightforward: during a robbery, people come before property, and after a robbery, information should be passed to the police.
House helps should never be expected to become security guards. Their first responsibility in a dangerous situation is to stay alive and, where possible, help keep others safe.
House Girls Village Expert Insight
From a domestic-worker placement perspective, safety should be discussed with both the employer and the worker before problems happen.
A house help should know who to call, what to do if someone tries to force their way into the home, and how to respond if something unusual happens after an incident.
Good household security is not about expecting a house help to confront criminals.
It is about preparation, communication and knowing when to call for professional help.
Key Takeaway
The Nakuru case had an unusual ending, but it carries a practical lesson for every household: teach domestic workers what to do before an emergency happens.
During a robbery, protect life first. Afterward, report the incident and preserve useful information for investigators.
And if a person connected to a crime later makes contact, do not arrange a private meeting. Let the police handle it.
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