An aerial view of Ahero town partially submerged after River Nyando burst its banks on November 29, 2024. The town now faces a different threat — crime.
A surge in violent gang attacks in Ahero Town, Kisumu County, has triggered a wave of mob justice, exposing growing insecurity and a breakdown of trust in law enforcement.
Residents say early morning assaults, phone snatching and roadside attacks have become routine over the past two months, particularly around the Ahero Interchange and along the busy Kisumu–Nairobi Road. The violence has been linked to a youth gang known locally as Chude Chude, whose members are said to target pedestrians, passengers and boda boda operators.
For Clement Otieno Onyango, a boda boda rider, the threat became personal on April 3.
He had escorted his wife to board a matatu to Sondu when two men attacked him at about 5am near the interchange.
“They demanded my phone. When I refused, one slashed me with a panga. I survived because my wife screamed, attracting attention,” he said.
He was rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
His experience reflects a broader pattern of violence that residents say has intensified in recent weeks. Victims report being attacked at dawn or late at night, often by groups armed with knives, machetes and metal rods. Several people have been injured, while others have lost phones, cash and personal belongings.
Kenya has at least 309 criminal gangs.
In one incident on April 5, a passenger travelling to Kisii was attacked after alighting near the interchange, sustaining panga wounds. A teacher injured in a similar attack remains admitted to a hospital in Kericho.
The situation escalated further following a daytime attack during a traffic jam caused by mourners heading to a funeral. Motorists were assaulted and robbed in broad daylight, sparking outrage among residents.
Days later, boda boda operators launched a manhunt after a rider identified one of his attackers. The pursuit, which has lasted several days, has reportedly led to the killing of at least seven suspected gang members.
In one incident, a suspect receiving treatment at Nyangande Sub-county Hospital was forcibly removed from the ward by a mob and killed outside the facility.
The killings have raised concerns over rising vigilante justice, even as residents accuse police of failing to act despite repeated reports. Traders say insecurity has disrupted business, forcing early closures.
“I used to operate until late, but now I close before 7pm. It is too risky,” said Grace Atieno Kisera, a pesticide trader who was recently robbed of Sh2,500 and a phone.
Boda boda operators, who say they have borne the brunt of the attacks, defended their actions but signalled a shift towards working with authorities.
“We stepped in because insecurity was spiralling. Now we are cooperating with police to ensure suspects are arrested and handed over,” said Barrack Odindo, chairman of the local riders’ association.
Tensions have been further fuelled by allegations that local political figures may be linked to the gang, claims authorities say are under investigation.
Ahero Sub County Commander Isaiah Moseh (left) and Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga during an interview on April 8, 2026. The Sub-county security committee claimed the recent upsurge in mob injustice is because of a tiff between bodaboda operators and members of Chude Chude gang.
Some properties have been vandalised amid the accusations, with one businessman denying involvement and describing himself as a victim of the unrest.
Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga confirmed the killings and acknowledged challenges in prosecuting suspects due to fear among witnesses.
“People are reluctant to testify because of possible reprisals. We are intensifying patrols and reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved in both the attacks and mob justice,” he said.
As security agencies move to restore order, residents remain caught between fear of gang attacks and the dangers of taking the law into their own hands.
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