Residents of Pipeline, Barnabas and Pakawa raise alarm over rising youth gang attacks

Residents of Pipeline, Barnabas, Pakawa, Gorofa and Kaka James in Nakuru East sub-county have been gripped by fear following a surge in violent muggings, reportedly carried out by youths.

In an open letter to the Nakuru County Commissioner, Loyford Kibaara, community leader Maina Nyaituga stated that residents have endured two weeks of sustained attacks by young men aged between 17 and 22.

Mr Nyaituga claims that more than 100 people have been attacked, beaten and robbed in the streets and in their businesses. Several cases have been reported to the police, while others have gone unreported due to residents' frustration at what they describe as the security agencies' inaction.

"The young men move in groups, some of them armed with knives, machetes and even a pistol. On August 24, they terrorised shops and bars between 11pm and a few minutes after midnight. The following day, at around 4pm, they were seen harassing motorists caught in traffic on the Nakuru–Nairobi highway near Miale,” says Mr Nyaituga.

The group's actions are calculated.

One member will deliberately provoke or pick on a passer-by and, when the victim resists, a larger group of 10–20 men will quickly join in under the guise of defending their friend. The confusion leaves the victims surrounded, outnumbered and vulnerable to robbery. Many have reported threats and injuries from blows and other crude weapons.

The gangs are often seen openly abusing and selling drugs to schoolchildren. He says this has repeatedly been raised with the police, but the issue has not been addressed.

The insecurity has left residents living in fear. Business owners have also become easy targets. Many people now rush home earlier than usual, and shops are closing earlier as residents try to avoid confrontations with the groups.

“We reached out to the County Commissioner to ask him to intervene in the matter. It is now a case of waiting to see what happens, as he said they would handle it,” says Mr Nyaituga.

Mtaa Wangu contacted County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara to confirm whether he had seen the open letter. Kibaara confirmed that he had received the letter and was aware of the problem.

However, he declined to provide details of the response, citing security reasons, and instead assured the public that the relevant agencies are aware of the matter.