Murder toll hits five in two months as juvenile gangs terrorise Kitengela residents

In a span two months, five people have been killed in Kitengela and scores others injured as two juvenile criminal gangs terrorise residents in the evenings.

Cases of insecurity have gone up recently as juvenile gangs take the town hostage from 9pm to the wee hours, according to victim accounts.

Locals say night-time crime hotspots include Miriam Road to Orata junction, Mwireri Lane, Service Lane from Deliverance Road junction to Balozi Road, Kyangombe and Noonkopir area.

On Monday morning, residents of Noonkopir neighbourhood woke up to find the body of a middle-aged man in the aread adjacent to Nkuruka Road, which sits on the border of Kajiado and Machakos counties.

The body had bruises and stab wounds, suggesting a struggle with his tormentors while trying to defend himself. He had no identification documents.

"This is the third person to be murdered around here in such a manner...involving knife stabs and the being body dumped in an open field," said resident Nancy Wamucii.

"We live in fear. A gang, which seems untouchable, has taken over our streets. They kill, rob and maim."

Police moved the body to Athi River Mortuary. 

Series of crimes

Last week, a hawker, 23, was robbed and stabbed to death in Kyangombe estate. 

According to his brother, James Nkurunziza, he was ambushed by a gang.

"He used to hawk bedsheets within town. He had multiple stab wounds," he said, adding that no one has been arrested over the murder.

In October, two young men were hacked to death in Kitengela Town. Police booked their bodies at City mortuary as unknown persons.

On September 29, 2025, a 32-year-old graphic designer was attacked and killed by a gang in Kyangombe estate. He died a few days shy of his birthday.

A postmortem indicated he died from internal bleeding in his head caused by blunt force trauma. His body also had some minor bruises.

Apart from the deaths reported in the same period, scores of people have sustained injuries at the hands of the criminals.

According to Kajiado County Commissioner Michael Yator, the gangs of four to five members roam Kitengela Town at night, leaving a trail of theft and fear. Multiple cases of mugging, robbery with violence and burglary in various estates have been reported at Kitengela police station.

Mr Yator identified the two gangs as 'Gaza' and 'ZZ'. He noted their modus operandi involving striking under the cover of darkness in groups of two to four and slithering away after committing the crime. 

He said backstreets have been their preferred areas for targeting lone walkers and businesses.

"We have identified and profiled members of the two criminal gangs. We know who their leaders are. We have them on our radar...we're waiting for the right time to pounce," he said. 

The administrator said the juveniles are using crime as a shortcut to living large.

"We will dismantle them completely. We urge residents to be vigilant."

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