NAKURU, Kenya, Jun, 26 – For years criminal gangs have terrorized various neighbourhoods across Nakuru county, stretching their tentacles of terror in almost every facet of the criminal underworld while meting violence on innocent civilians.
In recent years, however, one gang, born of desperation, violence, and a lack of respect for law and order has become the bane of frustration to law enforcement officers who despite numerous operations to sever their link to criminal activities continue to regroup and wreak havoc across the county.
‘Confirm’ as the gang is referred to, has been likened to the Greek mythological creature known as hydra – feared for its multiple heads, with those that dared to slay it warned that if one head was cut off, two more would grow in its place.
The gang, consisting of youth aged between 13 to 26 years is said to be domiciled in slum areas, engaging in all forms of crimes including, robbery with violence, cybercrime, and even murder.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in a previous report said that the gang which was characterized by the use of crude weapons now uses various kinds of firearms in their crusade of violence.
A recent police crackdown cited the Nakuru neighborhoods of Kivumbini, Bondeni, Kwa Rhoda, Manyani, Mawanga, Kaptembwa, and Kaloleni among other areas to be their base of operations and where civilians have been forced to undergo their reign of terror.
“They do not care what they do to people, whether they attack or rob you in the day or night. Violence is part of who they are,” said a Nakuru resident who further said,” I was robbed while walking in town in broad daylight. It happened so fast that by the time they left me on the ground is when I realized what had happened,”
On Saturday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i warned that the full might of the National Police Service will be deployed to the area in a bid to annihilate the gang.
This came amid the killing of three women in the county in recent weeks.
This past Friday, the latest victim of the gruesome killings was Diana Opicho who was found dead at her home.
The 25-year-old is said to have been attacked and killed by two men that initially posed as electrical technicians at around 2 pm on the fateful day.
“It was early in the afternoon around 2 pm, when we went to the house there was no sign of forced entry so we assume they were invited in,” said, Justus Juma, a relative.
Area DCI Boss Wesley Langat confirmed the incident and said that sleuths are probing two other similar incidents.
Another slain woman, Susan Wambui was found dead last week as her house was set ablaze. She was reportedly killed in front of her three-year-old son.
“There is this group called Confirm in Nakuru, we are ready for them, we shall camp in Nakuru. “I will be there together with the Inspector General of police (Hillary Mutyambai). They are calling themselves confirm, we are ready to ‘confirm’ them… you can’t be terrorizing Kenyans, women, in Nakuru…we are ready for them,” said Matiang’i.
The CS said that the operation will go hand in hand with combating threats of insecurity ahead of the August polls.
Earlier this year a special police squad was formed to tame the gang’s influence in the county.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohammed during a stakeholder meeting on election preparedness ahead of the August 9 General Election back in May said that the das of terror from the gang would come to an end.
“We have kicked off a major operation to weed out all criminals in organized gangs in Nakuru and other areas of Rift Valley. In Nakuru City, a multi-agency squad called anti-Confirm has been formed to deal with the notorious Confirm gang that has been terrorizing residents. We will not tolerate the resurgence of any criminal gang, those involved will face the full force of law. We will deal with criminal elements ruthlessly. I urge residents to be candid and report any criminals, to help police arrest them,” he said.
Around the time, gang on gang violence cases were reported as several members lost their lives. Police said that they were fighting over the control of several areas.
Scores of gang members have since been arrested and arraigned.
Police in Nakuru have also identified Dragon, Gaza, Msafi Kwanza, and even Eastlando as some of the gangs actively engaging in crime in Nakuru county.
The gangs are part of more than 90 others according to security agencies operating in Kenya amid security operations to wipe them out and apprehend their members before being arraigned.
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