Photo used for illustration purposes only. Credit: Andrew Nikitin
What started as a simple mother-son adventure quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for Coey Jaber, who decided to explore the scenic Kefri Zambezi area in Kikuyu.
Known for its serene greenery and viral TikTok spots, the area seemed perfect for a family outing—until fear struck.
Coey picked up her son from school and drove toward the lush forest, passing farmland before reaching manicured grass and tall, inviting trees.
“It looked peaceful. Perfect for photos,” she recalls. She parked, alighted, and allowed her son to snap pictures of her while five months pregnant.
But the calm didn’t last. From a distance, Coey noticed a man approaching. “Immediately, something felt off. I felt shivers run through my body,” she shared.
Panic set in as she realized the man was pacing quickly toward them.
A million frightening thoughts raced through her mind—robbery, assault, even death.
Acting fast, Coey grabbed her son, telling him to lie on the car floor while she prepared to escape. Before she could drive, another man appeared from the opposite side.
“I noticed the first one quickening his pace. I started the car, reversed, and drove off at a crazy speed,” she said. The long grass beneath the car slowed her, but she pushed on, her heart racing.
Her son, confused and scared, asked questions, but Coey instructed him to stay quiet, her attention split between navigating the rough terrain and keeping an eye on the men behind them.
“I have never driven that fast on a path with no proper road,” she admitted.
Only after reaching the tarmac did she feel a glimmer of safety, speeding off until they reached Kikuyu town.
Months later, the ordeal gained a darker context. News reports revealed that a woman had been raped and killed in the same area—a grim reminder that Coey had narrowly escaped a potential encounter with a serial predator.
“To this day, I get chills thinking about it,” she says.
Coey’s story serves as a stark warning for anyone venturing into isolated areas, no matter how picturesque. What looks like a peaceful escape can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation, especially for women exploring alone or with children.