Police accused of laxity as neighbours terrorise each other in Naivasha’s Kasarani Estate
Jacob Nyagwara was attacked on January 9 by a man known to him by a rungu who left him nursing serious head injuries
Residents of Kasarani, Naivasha are living in fear following a series of violent attacks in the informal settlement allegedly perpetrated by people within the neighbourhood
In the recent weeks, one person has been killed and several others left nursing injuries, as attackers believed to be known within the community operate with impunity.
In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, Rashid Adan Boya, brother to the late Ali Kala Bato, recounted the painful moments leading to his brother’s death after he was attacked.
“It was on a Friday when I received a call from a friend telling me my brother had been attacked and rushed to hospital. When I arrived, he was in a bad condition. After a short while, his body became cold and he passed on,” Rashid says.
Wife to the late Ali Kala Bato who was killed by a neighbor after being stabbed 10 times
According to the family, Ali had left home with friends before the attack occurred in the Karata area (gambling area) near a local bar, where he was confronted by a man who is their neighbor and stabbed multiple times.
"It was around 8 pm when my brother was attacked. No one has since come forward to offer any information that would help police in arresting our neighbour who stabbed my brother. Good Samaritans who attempted to help him were also attacked," Rashid notes.
On the same afternoon at around 1pm on January 30, Agnes Kerubo was also assaulted by a man she says is known to her and lives within the neighbourhood.
“I had gone to rest when the man called me outside Kibanda soliciting me for sex. When I refused to go with him and went back to the house he followed me and started beating me,” she says.
Agnes Kerubo, a resident in Kasarani who was attacked on January 30 for refusing to engage with a man who was soliciting sex from he
Kerubo says the suspect later threatened to kill her if she reported the matter to police. Although she reported the incident at Kasarani police post, she claims no action has been taken.
“I am still afraid because he knows where I live,” she adds.
In another incident, Jacob Nyagwara was attacked on January 9 while stepping out of his house for a short call. When Mtaa Wangu visited him, he was nursing head injuries and swollen eyes that had affected his vision.
“Shortly after I stepped out, someone hit me on the head with a rungu. As he searched through my pockets, I realised it was someone I knew and appeared drunk. I raised alarm and a neighbour came to help me. I was bleeding heavily and they rushed me to hospital,” Nyanwara says.
He has since recorded a statement with police and hopes the suspect will be arrested.
Residents say substance abuse is fueling the violence, with many young men reportedly engaging in alcohol and drugs before carrying out attacks. They also accuse police of looking away and only responding when victims have money.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Amina Adan Lila expressed frustration over what she termed as lack of justice and protection.
“We don’t have security here. We have a chief and police officers, but when something happens and you go to report, if you don’t have money nothing is done. You are only safe if you have money. Who will respond for the poor in our community and we are the majority,” she says.
Amina Adan Lila sister to the late Ali Kala Bato who was killed by a neighbor after being stabbed 10 times
She adds that her brother’s death and other attacks have devastated families and disrupted livelihoods.
“People are being beaten, injured and killed. We just want justice. The people responsible are known but nothing is being done,” Amina says, linking the violence to alcohol and drug abuse among youth in the area.
However, the area chief Sarah dismissed claims of widespread insecurity and substance abuse, maintaining that some incidents stem from personal disputes.
“What happened to Ali was a personal dispute. It was not about insecurity. There is nothing like insecurity in Kasarani,” the chief says, adding that some cases had previously been handled in court.
On the other hand, Naivasha sub county police commander Wilson Sigei declined an interview concerning insecurity issues in Kasarani but noted that Ali's murder was forwarded to the DCI for further investigation.
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