A new trend of dreadlocks theft is on the rise and reports indicate that the thugs are targeting people in matatus.
In a report by Nairobi News, a victim identified as Brenda Okwiri had their dreads literally shaved while in a PSV.
Narrating the story Brenda stated that: “When I was boarding the matatu, I noticed two young men whom I had seen at the supermarket earlier. The one with a black backpack greeted me as he got into the vehicle. I sat on the second last row”.
“When I alighted, I realized that my dreadlocks were lighter and on touching my head, I discovered they had actually been trimmed. I suspected the two fellows but they had alighted two stops before mine," she said.
Brenda's stylist, Fred Benzo, divulged that dreadlocks were in high demand and the hair robbers were targeting dreadlocks that have been bred for years.
“Some go for as much as Sh40,000. For KSh20,000, one can get six-inch long dreadlocks. They fetch even better money when crocheted on a foreigner’s head,” Benzo mentioned.
Dreadlocks is a trendy style that has been adopted by both men and women because of various reasons including wanting to maintain a natural look, reducing time spent in salons, economic factors among others.