M-Pesa attendant shot and wounded, robbed of Sh400,000 in Busia attack
Police in Busia County have launched a manhunt for two armed robbers who shot and critically injured an M-Pesa attendant during a violent robbery at Mundika Shopping Centre.
Police said the incident occurred on March 16, 2026, at around 1:00 p.m.
Preliminary investigations indicate that two assailants, armed with an AK-47 rifle and riding a white TVS motorcycle with no registration number, stormed Mareba Super M-Pesa outlet.
They accosted the attendant and shot her in the lower abdomen before robbing her of Sh400,000.
The victim was rushed to Bulanda Nursing Hospital, where she remains admitted in critical condition, police said on Tuesday.
Police said they processed the scene and recovered seven spent cartridges of 7.62mm special ammunition, as well as a bullet core and a fragment, all preserved as exhibits.
Security officers have since intensified operations in the area, combing nearby zones in pursuit of the suspects. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Such incidents have been on the rise in the region amid efforts by authorities to contain the trend.
Most targeted victims are M-pesa attendants, police say. Special teams have been sent to the area to pursue gunmen behind the attacks.
On March 12, 2026 a similar incident happened in Macalder, Migori County where an attendant was killed.
The killing of the M-Pesa agent sparked turbulent protests and torching of property in the area. It is the latest such incident amid calls for action to address the trend. At least 47 suspects were arrested following an operation to get those who attacked the local police station in reaction to the shooting of the attendant.
The victim, Peter Onyango, a 30-year-old raised the alarm when two armed men stormed the shop brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle and demanding money.
The robbers fired three shots during the attack. Onyango was shot on the right side of the chest and rushed to Migori County Referral Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries en route.
Police officers recovered one spent 7.92 mm special cartridge and a yellow helmet believed to have been left behind by the assailants. The suspects escaped on a motorcycle without registration plates.