What began as an ordinary Tuesday morning in Kayole, Nairobi, quickly turned into a bizarre spectacle on July 29, 2025, when a young man suspected of petty theft suddenly broke into wild, involuntary dancing in the middle of the street, tossing stolen banknotes from his shoes as bewildered residents stopped in their tracks to watch the chaotic scene unfold.
Market Buzz Turns Into Mayhem
According to eyewitnesses who had gathered at the busy Nyando Market in Kayole by 9.30 a.m., the suspect had been spotted moments earlier pretending to assist an elderly woman carry vegetables from a boda boda, only to snatch a wad of cash from her handbag and disappear swiftly into the crowd.
Sudden Change of Behaviour
Minutes after the incident, the man who had initially sprinted down Soweto Road while looking behind to check if anyone was following him, slowed down abruptly, removed his shoes, then proceeded to gyrate violently in the middle of the road as if controlled by an invisible DJ.
Money Starts Flying Everywhere
Bystanders were left confused as crisp one hundred and two hundred shilling notes began flying out of his shoes in all directions while he jumped, twisted, stomped and shouted lyrics from unknown songs, attracting curious boda boda riders and schoolchildren returning from midterm break.
Attempt to Escape Fails Miserably
Two boda boda operators interviewed at the scene said they attempted to approach the man to either calm him down or drag him to a police post but were forced to keep their distance when he began slapping the air violently and shouting the names of local musicians in rapid succession.
Crowd Grows Larger by the Minute
Within ten minutes, a large crowd had formed around the dancer, some filming the incident with their mobile phones while others picked up the fallen notes and started asking questions about where the money had come from and whether the man was mentally stable or possibly intoxicated.
Woman Identifies Stolen Money
Moments later, the elderly woman who had lost her cash reappeared at the scene escorted by two young men and began weeping loudly while pointing at one of the blue five hundred shilling notes that had landed near a gutter, claiming the serial number matched what she had withdrawn that morning.
Police Arrive With Difficulty
Police officers from Soweto Police Station who arrived ten minutes later had to push their way through the crowd to reach the suspect, who was now barefoot and rolling on the tarmac while singing a gospel song in soprano, despite clearly being a baritone just moments earlier.
Arrest and Retrieval
After calming him down using persuasive force and pouring a bottle of mineral water on his head, officers managed to recover close to seven thousand shillings from the suspect’s socks, waistband, and the inside sole of his right shoe before bundling him into the back of their patrol vehicle.
Suspect Refuses to Speak
At the police station, officers confirmed the suspect had refused to respond to any questions, instead choosing to beatbox with his teeth, play imaginary drums on the table and whistle continuously for fifteen minutes before falling asleep while still in a seated position.
Witnesses Share Theories
Several residents who spoke to the media outside the police post claimed the suspect must have been cursed or bewitched by someone he had wronged, insisting that no normal thief would dance so violently in front of the very people he had stolen from without fear or shame.
Religious Leaders Weigh In
A local pastor who happened to pass by during the incident said it was highly likely the man had stepped on spiritual ground he should not have, adding that certain people in Nairobi have protected themselves using methods he would rather not mention in broad daylight.
Market Vendors Confirm Pattern
Three market vendors confirmed they had seen similar events in the past few months, including one incident where a phone snatcher began reciting Psalms loudly while handing over the stolen phone to the police, insisting that invisible angels were pinching his ears every time he tried to run.
Social Media Goes Wild
By late afternoon, videos of the dancing thief had gone viral across multiple platforms, with TikTok users remixing the man’s unplanned choreography with popular Kenyan club beats, while others speculated that he was a failed musician using public shame to launch a career.
Recovered Cash Returned
Soweto Police Station released a statement confirming the recovery of KES 6,950 which was immediately returned to the elderly victim, adding that the suspect would be arraigned the following day pending a mental health evaluation to determine the cause of his bizarre conduct.
No Known Criminal Record
The Nairobi County Crime Office said the suspect did not appear in their existing database of known offenders, suggesting this may have been a first-time offence or that he used different names in previous activities, although his fingerprints were now being cross-checked with national records.
Shocked Family Members React
A man claiming to be the suspect’s cousin told reporters the accused had never shown any signs of mental illness and had in fact been attending church every Sunday without fail, leading the family to suspect he may have crossed someone’s boundaries or taken something that did not belong to him spiritually.
Local Tales of Retribution
Residents of Kayole say such incidents are not new and often involve mysterious forces at work, with several shopkeepers and home owners in the area allegedly using traditional protective methods to ward off intruders and recover lost items without involving local authorities.
Public Reactions Mixed
While some residents expressed sympathy and hoped the young man would receive counselling and forgiveness, others insisted he deserved a harsh punishment to serve as an example to others who think petty theft in a crowded marketplace can be done without consequences.
Mystery Remains Unsolved
Even as the dust settles and traders return to business, questions continue to swirl over what exactly triggered the man’s involuntary dance session and whether similar cases will begin to emerge as more residents seek divine or spiritual protection from petty criminals.
Spiritual Explanation Emerges
By Wednesday afternoon, unconfirmed reports indicated that the elderly woman who had lost the money had previously visited a well-known spiritual consultant shortly before the incident, raising speculation that the thief had unknowingly triggered a trap meant to expose him publicly.
Attention Turns to Shaba Mangube
A growing number of Nairobi residents now believe that the mysterious events witnessed in Kayole may be connected to powerful rituals offered by Shaba Mangube Doctors, who have built a reputation for recovering stolen items and punishing offenders using unexplained natural justice.
Cases Linked to Same Pattern
Similar cases have been reported in Umoja, Kariobangi and Githurai, where suspects either confessed without being asked, fell asleep inside compounds they were trying to rob, or were chased by bees until they returned the stolen goods in broad daylight while crying and apologising.
Local Leaders Seek Answers
Ward representatives and community elders have called for public forums to educate residents about spiritual safety, urging citizens to consider all options available when faced with recurring theft and injustice in both personal and business environments.
Public Interest in Justice Spells
Following the viral videos, Kenyans from all walks of life are reportedly flooding spiritual clinics and contacting traditional healers in hopes of protecting their property or identifying previous offenders who continue to escape formal legal punishment despite multiple reports.
Residents Share Testimonies
One businesswoman claimed she recovered her three stolen phones within forty-eight hours after consulting with Shaba Mangube Doctors, while a schoolteacher in Ruaka said the student who had stolen staffroom keys returned them in front of the headteacher while sobbing and asking for prayers.
Call for Action
Anyone who has experienced unexplained loss, mysterious theft or repeated break-ins is being encouraged to reach out to Shaba Mangube Doctors by calling +254795613711 for confidential consultation and immediate assistance.
