How Nairobi is slowly turning into a gangland city as politicians, security agencies watch

Haiti turned into a gangland after gangs closely associated with politicians, political parties, businessmen, and the elites of the country turned against Haitians. Could Kenya be turning into the same even as the government, especially security agencies, and the politicians watch?

Security expert Richard Tuta says their is nothing to fear since the goons for have been causing havoc in the city in recent months are not organised but instead accuses leaders from the various regions across the City, there is nothing to fear.

He explains that if the goons are hired for a short time for arising ‘jobs’, they’ll always do what they were paid for, out of desperation, finances, and go back to their homes.

“Are the goons or gangs structured? If they are structured, it is something to be afraid of. If it is an Adhoc group that assembles daily, and once an action has been accomplished, they disappear to where they came from, it is not something to be feared,” Tuta explains in an interview with The Informer Media Group.

Tuta explains further that the groups can only evolve into something bigger, like groups leading civil wars in other countries, if their leadership is strong and is a replica of an army.

“If they are organised groups with leadership and have a replica of an army, then we can be afraid of but just a political gathering for a few hours, there is nothing. But the groups should be looked into. If they even have regional leaders and such, then that can be transformed into what we are seeing in other countries,” he explained.

He shares that goons can be dealt with in a soft or hard way, but that showing as being a goon is better than finding a purpose in life.

He advises that they can be empowered even through government programs, as many of them engage in crime for money due to lack of jobs.

“The countermeasures and how security agencies respond can also make them metamorphose into another bigger empty, or they just disappear. They should be approached with both soft and hard power. Hit on them or entice them by giving them an alternative, like giving them jobs. For example, tell them that they’ll be taken to affordable housing or climate works. You cannot let them know that becoming a goon is a booming business. The moment you make them feel it is lucrative, it opens them even more. Let them know there will be no benefit in being a criminal,” Tuta advises.

Gen Z anti-government protests led the government and politicians to use goons and violent gangs to terrorize innocent protesters and loot businesses within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), including this week, with ‘protection’ from Police officers.

The resurgence of goons in Nairobi was first noticed during the development tour by President William Ruto in the City in mid-March this year.

The goons stole from innocent Kenyans, with many losing their valuables as police officers watched.

The standing out incident was when the president visited Mathare and Ruaraka, and after the rally, a section of President Ruto’s cheering squad turned the event into an opportunity for crime, stealing, and attacking innocent passengers along Thika Road.

Videos seen on Social media by The Informer Media Group indicate many of those who were involved in the crimes had earlier cheered the head of state.

Worse still, some of the crimes were committed near the General Service Unit Headquarters and the National Youth Service headquarters.

Witnesses claim that law enforcement officers stationed nearby did not stop the attacks.

While there was a noticeable increase in security as Ruto toured areas to launch and assess various projects, it is absurd that the elite officers from special units, including the Counter Assault Team (CAT), could not help in preventing the crimes.

Two days after the incident, Kenyans on Social Media raised complaints about the laxity of Police officers allowing such crimes to happen; the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported that eight suspects had been arrested.

The detectives said they had launched a probe and a crackdown to apprehend the suspects.

The DCI singled out the Thika Road incident, yet similar attacks happened during the first day of the tour in Kamukunji and at Statehouse Avenue, where people were mugged after the president finished his speech and while the youths forcefully wanted to have lunch with him at Statehouse.

After the president finished his tour in Kamukunji and went to the State House, he was followed by a crowd of youths who wanted to have lunch with him.

The same gangs were paid handsomely to attend the head of State’s tour in the Mount Kenya Region end of that month, with the banned Mungiki group being believed to have been used in the mobilization of attendance.

On Tuesday, this week, goons armed with clubs and crude weapons using motorbikes flooded the Nairobi CBD, raising fresh questions over state-backed goon involvement to disrupt a peaceful demonstration calling for justice.

In some of the viral videos on social media recorded around the City Hall area, the goons shouted affirming the City governor that the City was under protection:

“Sakaja, we have defended the city,” they shouted in the videos.

In some other videos, showing when the goons were getting into the CBD, they were having close interactions with the police, and the officers did not even arrest them, yet they saw them armed and attacking innocent people.

Some of the goons who spoke to the local media revealed that they had been told they were to guard the city from looters, and they agreed out of desperation for money.

“We were paid Sh1000 to disrupt protests. We did not know we were coming to fight them as we were told to guard the shops from looters,” a goon claimed.

Last weekend, while attending a Church service in Western Kenya, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had warned violent protesters that they would ‘find’ him in town if they came to destroy the CBD.

“I want to tell youths in Nairobi that it is your right to demonstrate, but we will not allow you to destroy property again. So don’t try it, you’ll find me in town,” Sakaja.

Another claimed organiser of the goons was Korogocho Member of County Assembly Absalom Odhiambo, who in a video is seen urging the City governor to mobilize youths to work alongside the police and manage protesters.

“We are not denying that Albert died. But he did not die, so Nairobi is destroyed. Governor Sakaja, form a youth group and pair them with police so that anyone trying to cause chaos is dealt with appropriately,” Odhiambo, famously known as Matach, urged.

However, on Wednesday, Sakaja denied his association with the goons as he condemned them for exploiting peaceful protesters, calling the police to arrest those involved.

“We disassociate from any gangs or militia or any politically snored groups that exploit demonstrations to engage in criminal activities,” Sakaja stated.

Two days after the protest and after being off for on call, Odhiambo also came out threatening to sue the media for associating him with goons.

He dissociated himself with the goons, saying he is not part of those who organized their violent acts.

Videos shared on social media after the Tuesday protest indicated that the goons had police protection and backing from the state as they walked side by side with the law enforcers.

However, the National Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga defended the police, saying they do not work with goons.

He revealed that there were people who claimed the goons armed with clubs and crude weapons were protecting their business, but NPS has sent a warning to them, adding it is against the law.

Muchiri added that it is only police officers who are required to offer protection during protests.

“Police do not work with goons. It is not factual. Some people claimed that the goons were protecting their businesses, and we have given them a warning that it is not their duty, as we shall act on anyone who does not obey the law, whether a police officer or a goon. We are a country of law,” he said.

The spokesperson shared that even though there are claims of the goons being sponsored by the political class and some powerful people, NPS has not summoned any of them for questioning, as they have not received any information on the same.

“I do not know them, and there is no one who has been summoned by the police over the same,” he said.

This is even as Tuta shares that by the goons walking armed with clubs could not be arrested unless they committed offences as listed in the penal code.

He argued that the penal code protects them as they were not armed with guns

“There is nowhere in the law that says goons are labelled on the face or written somewhere that a goon should be arrested. Until they commit an offence in the penal code, it is when they cannot be arrested. Walking with clubs and crude weapons in the streets is not a crime. Sometimes we blame the police, but they’ll arrest you, where will they take you?,” he said.