By day, Shauri Yako, Homa Bay Town’s busiest informal settlement, appears like any other close-knit neighbourhood where families go about their daily lives.
At first light, the area hums with enterprise. Women line the roadside frying mandazi, chapati and samosas, while boda-boda riders weave through the streets ferrying workers and schoolchildren to offices and classrooms.
At that hour, there is little to suggest that fear lurks beneath the surface.
By mid-morning, activity slows down. The settlement comes alive again at dusk when families stream back home after another day’s labour.
However, when darkness falls, everything changes.
Residents say the narrow alleys become hunting grounds for street gangs that emerge from the shadows to rob, assault and terrorise anyone who crosses their path.
An aerial view of Shauri Yako, an informal settlement in Homa Bay Town in this photo taken on June 28, 2026.
Known as the Rock Boys, the group comprises adolescents aged between 16 and 19. Authorities say some members are school dropouts with previous criminal records, while others are already facing court cases. Operating in groups of more than five, they mainly target people walking home after 9pm.
Last Thursday, gang members allegedly assaulted a woman walking home from the market before a passer-by intervened and chased them away after threatening them.
The attackers fled but later regrouped and returned to exact revenge on the Good Samaritan. He was hacked with a machete, suffering severe injuries to his chin and losing several teeth.
Doctors at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital said he would require reconstructive surgery at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu.
Angered by the attack, residents decided to take security into their own hands, launching a manhunt for suspected gang members.
Several people were injured as some suspects resisted attempts to hand them over to the police, prompting security officers to intervene. Dozens of officers were deployed to patrol the settlement and dismantle the criminal network.
During a two-day operation, police arrested 40 youths believed to be members of the gang.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem said the suspects were apprehended while hiding in various parts of the settlement.
“They will be arraigned. Some have active court cases ranging from robbery with violence,” he said.
Homa Bay Deputy County Commissioner Charles Mwayaya speaks to youths from Homa Bay Town during a baraza to discuss security in the region on July 2, 2026.
County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi expressed concern over a growing trend in which teenagers spend time in makeshift gyms and weight-lifting centres in informal settlements, building physiques that are later used to intimidate members of the public.
“Instead of being in school, some young boys are being recruited into gangs and goonism. The future of some of them will be ruined unless they change course,” he said.
Mr Mwiwawi warned that security agencies would intensify operations against criminal gangs and pursue those recruiting teenagers into crime.
“We will not spare anyone. We need to protect Homa Bay and keep the region safe,” the County Commissioner said.
Gloria Achieng, a psychologist at Soulevement, a non-profit organisation working to improve the lives of young people, said many parents spend long hours engaged in income-generating activities, leaving little time to supervise their children.
As a result, many children spend most of their time with peers and become susceptible to negative influence.
“It creates an easy opportunity for children to be influenced,” Ms Achieng said.
She noted that many teenagers who join gangs first express frustration over lacking possessions owned by their friends. Some, she said, resort to crime to obtain what they desire.
According to Ms Achieng, teenage gangs are commonly involved in robbery with violence, theft and other petty crimes.
“Teenagers may lack things their friends have, but there are legitimate ways of acquiring them. Unfortunately, some resort to crime to get what they want,” she said.
Teenagers who are raised in homes characterised by constant conflict often seek acceptance elsewhere.
“When there is chaos at home and school is also not working out, some teenagers seek belonging in other groups where they feel accepted,” she said.
Arujo Location Chief Bob Lang’o said some Rock Boys members have long histories of disrupting school activities and sporting events before graduating into more violent criminal behaviour.
For years, he said, few residents took the group’s activities seriously. Ironically, the settlement’s name, Shauri Yako, loosely translated as “It is your own problem”, reflected the widespread indifference whenever isolated attacks occurred.
“They go as far as molesting women and stealing personal belongings. There was a time police attempted to deal with them, but officers were accused of harming innocent children,” the chief said.
Youths from Arujo Ward during a meeting organised by security officers in Homa Bay over insecurity in Homa Bay Town on July 2, 2026.
Mr Lang’o further alleged that some gang members receive protection from politicians during the day, who pay them and embolden them to continue engaging in crime.
He claimed the youths often accompany political aspirants and elected leaders, serving as unofficial security personnel in exchange for handouts.
According to the chief, some gang members are still in junior secondary school.
“I know of two who dropped out of senior secondary school. They have been causing many problems,” he said.
He warned that dismantling the gang could become even more difficult during the campaign period and appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities.
“We have had cases where suspects are released after orders are issued from above. Junior officers tell us their hands are tied, yet we do not know who gives these orders,” he said.
The chief questioned the silence of local politicians and human rights organisations, saying they should condemn the violence.
Poor lighting compounds the danger. Most parts of Shauri Yako have no streetlights, a vulnerability criminals exploit with chilling precision. By 11pm, residents say, the settlement has become a virtual no-go zone, save for the few brave enough to risk confronting the criminals concealed in the darkness.
Beyond street muggings and assaults, residents say gang members have increasingly turned to housebreaking. Several families have reported losing household property.
Cynthia Osogo woke up last Friday to find the door to her kitchen wide open. The incident came barely three weeks after thieves had stolen her gas cylinder and clothing. This time she was fortunate. The intruders found only jerrycans in the kitchen and were unable to access the main house because the connecting door had been locked.
“Otherwise they would have stolen many household items,” she said.
A neighbour reported seeing several masked youths armed with machetes climbing through a gap cut into the perimeter fence. “From their appearance, they looked like teenagers,” the neighbour said.
Youths from Arujo Ward during a meeting organised by security officers in Homa Bay over insecurity in Homa Bay Town on July 2, 2026.
The insecurity has also affected businesses. Many food vendors now close earlier than they once did, while boda-boda operators charge higher fares after dark because of the increased risk.
Police have since intensified night patrols and urged residents to strengthen community policing initiatives.
Julius Orondo, a boda-boda operator in Homa Bay Town, said that although security remains relatively stable in some parts of the town, informal settlements continue to experience frequent criminal incidents.
Mr Orondo also noted that phone snatching and pick pocketing tend to increase during election campaign periods.
Wilfred Onani, a youth representative from Sofia, appealed to the government to increase police patrols while urging residents to unite in promoting peace and security.
Bishop Abraham Odongo described insecurity as a major obstacle to business and development, urging the government to enhance security, particularly in informal settlements.
“Political leaders should promote peaceful coexistence and prioritise the welfare of young people. We plan to organise a joint prayer event focused on peace and security in the county,” he said.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Secretary Abdul Masoud appealed to politicians, young people and residents to reject violence and embrace peace, unity and respect for law enforcement agencies.
“Collective responsibility among citizens, government institutions and community stakeholders will help restore security and improve safety across Homa Bay County,” he said.
