This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Published on December 11, 2019, a spate of armed robberies and break-ins has been reported in Nakuru Town East and West constituencies. The suspected gang, dubbed the 'Confirm' group, is believed to be made up of teenagers between 12 and 18 years old.
According to eyewitnesses, the gang members were armed with crude weapons, including clubs, metal bars, and other objects. They allegedly attacked motorists who refused to stop, vandalized vehicles, and sexually assaulted several women who attended a music event at a local private members club.
David Kiema, a taxi operator, narrowly escaped death when he was accosted by the gang last Saturday. 'They stopped me near Bontana Hotel. There were 20 of them and they were armed. I defied their orders to stop and they broke the windscreen and side mirror of the car,' he said.
Another victim, John Mbugua, was attacked along Moi Road the same night. The gang posed as clients seeking transport before confronting him, snatching his mobile phone, vandalizing his vehicle, and threatening to kill him.
Locals have accused the police of doing little to fight the gang, with one business owner saying, 'These criminals are well known to the police, whom am I to fight them through the media?' Police have denied this, with Nakuru Town East Sub County Community Policing committee chairman Ibrahim Ogeto claiming that the gang is recruiting teenagers, especially school dropouts.
Residents have called for more police patrols within the estates, with some abandoning their businesses due to fear of attacks. The case has been reported at various police stations, including Nakuru Central and Bondeni Police stations.
