FROM INBOX : A 61-year-old Polish pensioner is recovering after a horrifying two-hour home invasion in Malindi, even as the owner of the rental property where the attack occurred refuses to take responsibility for what happened.
Piotr Marek, who has been in Kenya on an extended tourist visa since June, was asleep in his rented home at Kilimandogo Residence when five masked, machete-wielding men stormed in around 2 a.m. on Thursday.
The gang, dressed in black and speaking Swahili-accented English, shone torches in Marek’s eyes, tied him up with ropes, and repeatedly threatened to cut him if he made noise. They demanded gold, euros, and cash as they dragged the terrified tourist from room to room, ransacking wardrobes and drawers.
By the time they fled two hours later, the attackers had made off with his laptop, two high-end phones, KES 250,000, USD 500, EUR 200, a watch, clothes, shoes, a TV, and his Polish passport.
Neighbors later raised the alarm, and local guards freed Marek, who has since been relocated to a hotel under the care of the Polish Embassy.
However, attention has now shifted to the management of Kilimandogo Residence. According to witnesses and initial reports, the security guards on duty failed to respond during the attack.
According to the neighbours, Earlier that night, the property guards allegedly allowed entry to a woman previously banned from the residence.
It is believed she led the attackers to Marek’s unit and identified where valuables were stored.
Despite these security lapses, the property’s owner and manager has declined to take any responsibility for the incident.
Residents have condemned the management’s silence, saying this is not the first time safety concerns have been raised at the residence.
The violent robbery has reignited fears about lax security measures in Malindi’s tourist areas, where several foreign nationals have reported attacks in recent months.
Police have launched manhunt for the suspects.
