Bank robberies were at their peak in the 90s, when Peugeot was the Subaru of the day. One legendary bank robber was John Kiriamiti, who has since reformed. Kiriamiti was known for doing the unexpected, such as leading a team of thieves to rob a bank in front of a presidential convoy. This took place in Naivasha, where Kiriamiti and his associates planned to execute the robbery on the same morning that President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was passing from Nairobi to Nakuru Statehouse.
All the thieves, including Kiriamiti, were armed with guns, which they used to engage the police who were stationed at the bank. Coincidentally, this was the same minute that President Moi was passing by. The President stopped and inquired about the bold thieves who had not only managed to steal millions, but had also made the police officers “sit down like children.” After the Naivasha bank saga, President Moi instructed the then police boss Patrick Shaw to quickly trace and crackdown on the thieves. Despite Kiriamiti’s many close calls, he was eventually arrested and jailed for 30 years.
After his release from Kamiti Maximum Prison, Kiriamiti reformed and became a writer. He authored several books, including “My Life in Crime” (1980), “My Life with a Criminal: Milly’s Story” (1984), “Son of Fate” (1994), “The Sinister Trophy” (2000), and “My Life in Prison” (2004).
