Robberies in Kenya are becoming more bolder in their nature and creativity. With the recent news that two "nuns" robbed a forex bureau in Karen, we are seeing more smarts in thieving. Things seem to be unfolding at a break-neck pace as Kenyan thugs find more innovative ways to steal without being killed in the "line of duty".

Below are some of the most Kenya has witnessed in her history. The list is not comprehensive.

Mashreq Bank robbery at ICEA building on Kenyatta Avenue.

On the morning of August 17, 1999, the bank was robbed six thugs who took their time and robbed the bank of KShs. 9 million bob-or 7.5 million, depending on whether you believe the bank or the police. The interesting part of the story was when one gunman started singing. Singing out loudly. Singing the lyrics to the hymn Abide with Me. Hehehe!

The hymning gangster was assigned to the boring job of watching over the horrified hostages. To calm himself down, he sang. Then the others joined in. The music got so good that the singers even started clapping and jumping.

The robbery of an inside job because, the thieves knew the amount contained in the vaults, the names of some of the bank employees and even shift times.

Mwende Mutuko, the brazen Mpesa thief

According to various M-Pesa agents, Mwende has conned them thousands of shillings in cash. She apparently visits M-Pesa agents asking to deposit huge sums of cash for the agents only to realize that the notes are fake.

Over the weekend, the robbers broke through the floor, entered the vault and used oxy-acetylene torches to open safes. He said the thieves dug a hole, approximately 10 feet deep and a trench 25 to 30 metres long directly to the bank’s strongroom.

Charles Omondi Odhiambo who took 54 million shillings in hard currency

In July 1999, a business executive, Charles Omondi Odhiambo, walked into the Embakasi strong room of Kenya Air Freight Handling Ltd and left with a staggering Sh54.7 million. The East African Standard wrote:

“It was arguably one of the easiest thefts of its magnitude ever pulled off in the region."

The cash was in dollar notes and was wrapped in an 11-kilo parcel and belonged to Citibank of Fedha Towers, Muindi Bingu Street. It was alleged that the suspect had run out of the country with police raising the initial bounty from Sh250,0000 to Sh1 million.

Standard Chartered robbery of 96 million in 1997

Nairobi area Criminal Investigations Department boss, Salim Swaleh, remarked of the robbery:

“I have not seen anything like this and I can assure you that it was an inside and well-executed job."

The bank was Standard Chartered, Moi Avenue branch.

The thugs had struck the bank at 7.30am, stole Sh40 million, some $90,000 and possibly other currencies in cash. Standard Chartered estimated the total stolen to add up to Sh96 million, making this the biggest bank robbery in Kenya.

Newspaper columns noted how the thugs appeared relaxed and were in no hurry. They escaped in a waiting vehicle that had all along been parked on Moi Avenue.

The stolen cash had been meant for the day’s operation.