How Nakuru County's quest to tame criminal gangs resulted in the transfer of several police bosses
Nakuru County police commander Samuel Ndanyi.
Insecurity has been a major concern in Nakuru as law enforcement agencies try to tame notorious criminal gangs that have turned the county into their playground.
Months before the 2022 General Election, one of the most gruesome incidents took place in Bahati where six women were brutally killed within a week, causing panic and fear to grip most residents in the area.
This incident made national headlines and naturally the national security apparatus had to spring into action and former Cabinet Interior Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i decided to bring in a new county police chief to help curb the high crime rate in the county.
Also Read: Cries of Crime: Why we joined 'confirm' gang
Beatrice Kiraguri was replaced by Peter Mwanzo who was the Kasarani OCPD and after a while Nakuru residents felt the presence of the new county boss as insecurity incidents were reduced to a minimum.
Former Nakuru County police commander Peter Mwanzo.
He was recalled to Nairobi after the Kenya Kwanza administration took power.
With the removal of Mr Mwanzo, criminal activities resumed as evidenced by the increase in insecurity in parts of Rhonda, Kaptembwo and Bondeni.
His presence was sorely missed as Nakuru residents took to social media to lament and call for his transfer back to the county.
Also Read: Nakuru Police bosses moved in shakeup, following the rise of criminal activities in the County
However, another police chief was assigned to the county, Zachary Kimani.
Former Nakuru County police commander Zachary Kimani.
His reign in June 2023 was marked by gang wars between the Mauki and Watizedi gangs, which led to heightened insecurity.
This issue was extensively investigated by Mtaa Wangu Investigative Reporters in a series called Cries of Crime, which exposed the threat posed by these criminal gangs.
To show that it was tackling insecurity, the government, as it had done before, made the old-fashioned change and brought in a new county commander, Samuel Ndanyi.
In his wake, he had to deal with a new threat in the name of Maandamano.
Also Read: The bold criminals of Nakuru county
Nakuru Town West was the hardest hit and the violence brought with it criminal activities such as vandalism, burglary and robbery.
As the year drew to a close, the situation seemed to have calmed down and there were minor security incidents that did little to alarm residents.