The incident happened late at night while he was walking home after work.
The man, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said he noticed suspicious groups of young men loitering along the road.
From experience, he knew they could easily target him.
“I was carrying my phone and some little money. When I saw them, my heart started racing. I had to think fast,” he said.
Instead of panicking, he quickly came up with a plan. He removed his shoes, folded his trousers, and smeared dust on his shirt to look untidy. He then began walking slowly, dragging his feet and pretending to be tired and homeless.
The gangsters, who were eyeing him from a distance, lost interest. According to the man, they seemed to assume he had nothing valuable worth stealing.
“They just looked at me and moved on. That is how I walked safely past them,” he explained.
Many Nairobians say such incidents are becoming common. In several estates, muggers target people late at night or early in the morning.
Victims often lose phones, wallets, and other valuables. Some are even attacked and left injured.
Residents have been calling for increased security patrols, but many argue that individuals must also learn how to survive in such situations.
“Sometimes you have to outsmart criminals,” one resident commented after hearing the story.
Safety experts, however, warn that such tricks may not always work. They advise people to avoid lonely routes, walk in groups where possible, and use safe means of transport at night. They also encourage reporting suspicious gangs to the police.
Despite the risks, Nairobians are known for their resilience and creativity. This man’s quick thinking has sparked conversations online, with some people praising his wit while others joked that Nairobi life teaches survival skills you won’t learn anywhere else.
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