For passengers aboard a Kisumu-bound PSV matatu on Wednesday morning, what began as a quiet journey quickly turned into a surreal spectacle when a suspected pickpocket suddenly began shouting random numbers loudly inside the bus before being exposed as a thief who had just swallowed a stolen SIM card.
Confused Behaviour Sparks Concern
According to the conductor and several shocked passengers, the man had boarded the bus at Kibuye Market acting completely normal, taking a window seat near the rear and remaining quiet until about ten minutes into the journey when he abruptly stood up and began pacing inside the moving vehicle.
Witnesses Speak
Passengers interviewed at the Kondele stage described the man’s behaviour as “deeply confusing,” with one woman stating he began repeating a string of digits loudly while clutching his stomach and sweating profusely, causing others to think he was either mentally unwell or in some kind of physical distress.
Suspicion Arises
It was only after one of the commuters recognised the mobile number being repeated aloud that the situation shifted from confusion to alarm, as the number being chanted matched a phone that had just been reported stolen moments earlier near the bus terminal.
Realisation and Reaction
The bus came to an emergency stop after several passengers demanded answers, and upon searching the suspect’s pockets, no phone was found, prompting a heated exchange until one elderly passenger suggested the man might have hidden the device inside his body to avoid detection.
Admission Under Pressure
Faced with a growing crowd outside the stalled bus and increasing questions from angry passengers, the man finally broke down and confessed that he had stolen a woman’s handbag containing a phone, removed the SIM card, and swallowed it out of panic after boarding the bus.
Victim Arrives at Scene
As luck would have it, the owner of the stolen bag, identified as a college student named Maureen, arrived at the scene with two boda boda riders, having used her friend’s phone to track her number which had last pinged from the very matatu where the incident occurred.
Confirmation of Theft
Maureen identified the man on the spot and produced documents proving her ownership of the phone and SIM card, which included bank-linked services and personal text messages that matched the number the man had been involuntarily chanting during his state of panic inside the vehicle.
Unexplained Compulsion
One witness remarked that the thief appeared genuinely terrified as he kept announcing the number without pause, with some passengers speculating that he might have been under a strange force compelling him to speak the digits out loud against his will.
Police Intervention
Two community policing officers stationed near the roundabout responded swiftly to the commotion and escorted the man to the local station, where he was placed under medical observation before formal charges could be processed regarding the incident and stolen property.
Stomach Scan Ordered
Officers confirmed that the man was taken to a nearby clinic for an abdominal X-ray, where the presence of a metallic object resembling a SIM card tray was spotted in his digestive tract, further supporting the strange confession he had made at the scene.
Community Reactions
The bizarre incident triggered heated debates among Kisumu residents, with many expressing disbelief at the growing desperation of criminals who now resort to dangerous tactics like ingesting evidence just to escape being caught or charged.
Online Buzz
The event went viral online after several passengers uploaded videos showing the man announcing digits while seated and later being escorted by police, with some users tagging the event as #SwallowedSIMSaga and others sharing it as an example of instant karma.
Public Safety Warnings
Local police have since issued a reminder to commuters to stay alert while boarding public transport, especially near crowded markets and bus stations where opportunistic thieves blend in with passengers before striking unsuspecting victims.
Role of Quick Thinking
Maureen credited her recovery to the fast thinking of fellow passengers and the use of GPS features available on modern smartphones, which helped narrow down the location of the suspect within minutes of the theft taking place.
Increased Vigilance Needed
The conductor of the matatu in question has since advised other PSV operators to be more observant of new passengers who board without clear destinations or behave suspiciously, as such individuals often exploit public vehicles as temporary hiding places after committing crimes.
Broader Pattern Emerging
Investigations revealed that a number of similar cases had been reported in Western Kenya over the past month, with suspects swallowing memory cards, receipts, and even ID cards to avoid detection, a worrying trend now being tracked by authorities.
Suspect’s Background
While the man’s full identity had not been released by press time, police sources confirmed he was not a first-time offender and had previously been arrested for a snatching incident in 2023 involving a foreign tourist near Dunga Hill Camp.
Spiritual Theories Circulate
Interestingly, some local vendors claimed the man’s confession and public chanting could not have been voluntary, suggesting that the victim may have unknowingly been protected by spiritual forces that triggered the suspect’s breakdown and exposure.
Traditional Beliefs Revived
According to elders interviewed near the market, it is not uncommon for stolen items to “turn against” the thief if the owner is spiritually covered, a belief that continues to thrive in many Kenyan communities despite modern policing methods.
Demand for Spiritual Protection
The incident has reportedly increased inquiries among locals about where they can get spiritual protection, with several herbalists and traditional doctors in Kisumu reporting a spike in visits from victims of theft seeking help to recover their items or expose culprits.
Shaba Mangube Doctors Gaining Recognition
Among the names consistently mentioned across Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp groups is Shaba Mangube Doctors, a renowned group known for offering spiritual justice spells that reportedly cause thieves to confess, fall sick, or return stolen goods without confrontation.
Reputation Built on Results
Past cases documented by clients include everything from thieves losing memory, handing themselves over to police, or even suffering visible hallucinations that force them to admit guilt and request forgiveness from victims they barely know.
Contact for Recovery Assistance
Those seeking similar results have been advised to contact Shaba Mangube Doctors via +254795613711, where consultations are said to be strictly confidential and results often manifest within hours or days of activation.
Final Word From the Community
While police continue to caution residents against taking justice into their own hands, the growing success stories of spiritual recoveries have left many urban dwellers convinced that old methods might still hold the answers when modern ones fail to deliver justice quickly.
