If you are a driver, it comes naturally to want to help out a fellow motorist who has gotten stranded for whatever reason. Though a good deed, it comes with its own share of risks as not everyone is genuine. There are those who pretend to be stranded with the intention of robbing you. Mercy Murugi a Kenyan on Twitter narrates her experience on how she was almost hijacked this morning as she stopped to help out a stranded motorist.
So today morning, on my way to work, I get stopped by a guy with his car hood up. It’s a kind of a busy road, so I decide to slow down
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
They are 2 men out side the car, and a lady inside. They would like me to help them jumpstart their car. First instinct for me is to help
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
I position my car in front of theirs, one of guys walks towards me and I tense. For no reason at all. I mean, it’s 8.50am (I checked)
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
He asks if I have jumper cables. I do, but I say no. See, I am scared now, me saying yes means I’d have to get out of my car
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
He says never mind, we have ours. And I think…So why did you ask me for mine? He walks back and get his cables out. I roll the up window
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
I pop my hood, and the two men try to hook up the cables. They have those jua kali ones that do not have clips.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
The girl is now out of their car and walks over, close to my car on the passenger side. I instinctively check if my locks are on.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
She walks as if towards the back and leans on the passenger door at the back of the car. All this while, she is on her phone. Meanwhile..
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
One of the guys comes to my window and tells me to go to their car to switch it on because him and the other guy need to hold the cables
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
This whole scenario does not add up. And I am thinking, Mercy, you are being paranoid. It makes sense that they both need to hold the cables
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
Something is tagging at my mind. I want to believe they genuinely need help, but another feeling tells me to not get out of the car.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
So I tell him no. I will not get out. He looks at me, a very very scary look. I roll up the window all the way and switch on my car.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
He realises I’m not joking and calls to some guy from across the road, to come switch on their car ignition. The guy is too obliging.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
This new guy goes straight to the car, switches it on, I have my car on, they hook up the cables and their car is fine.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
The girl is now next to my door, not on phone anymore. She is still leaning on the car. I now want to drive off, hood up or not.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
Their car is now running but they are not closing my hood. They are talking under the hood. The 3 of them!
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
I start to reverse & the first guy reaches for his back pocket. I know that move. See it too many times. The girl doesn’t even look started
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
For some reason, my car hood bangs back and I am now reversing like crazy. This is happening too fast no one seems to pay attention.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
At what I assumed was safe distance, I get back to my side of the road and drive past them, pedal to the floor.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
I see them jump into their car — all 3 dudes and the girl— and I am now convinced they are going to follow me.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
If I keep driving, I am going to end up on that stretch of road next to Ngong Forest / back of Showground. It’s a deserted road.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
If I stop, they might just decide to finish whatever they were planning. Which i am sure by now was carjacking.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
Now if I have ever driven you, you know I can be crazy with the best of ‘em. And that is what I do. I tear up that Kibera road like mad.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
And true to form, they are behind me. But I know that road like the back of my hand, I am avoiding all the potholes and doing 140kph
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
I take turn to Supersport and they did not see that coming as they keep driving straight towards the cemetery.
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
I drive to the office parking and park My heartbeat is so loud my ears are ringing. I know they will not come here but I can’t leave the car
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
Looking back, I see why even a busy road is not safe. The illusion is having people around is safe but happens so fast they would’t be aware
— Mercy Murugi (@mercymurugi) August 15, 2016
In this instance it was her instincts and quick thinking which saved her, in as much as you would like to stop and help take care so that you don’t become a victim.