They are young, armed and dangerous, pouncing on their targets without warning, inflicting them with injuries and robbing valuables.
The criminal gang referred to as B13 operates in residential areas in Eldoret, armed with crude weapons such as machetes and knives, causing fear among the residents of the newest city in the country.
Pastor David Njuguna from Munyaka estate is lucky to be alive after he was attacked by the dreaded criminal gang while on the way to his Gospel Foundation Church.
“I had gone to fix an electricity token in my church at around 9 pm when the criminal gang pounced on me. I suspect they had been trailing me for a while before attacking,” said Pastor Njuguna, who suffered head and chest injuries.
He was rescued by good Samaritans who rushed him to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) for treatment.
The man of God is not the lone victim of the notorious B13 criminals who are believed to be behind the upsurge in mugging, burglary and robbery with violence in other residential estates in Eldoret.
Another pastor who requested not to be named due to security fears said he suffered injuries on his right arm and lost his mobile phone and cash to the attackers.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi (right), accompanied by the County's Criminal Investigations Office Daniel Muleli, and other officers during the display of dismantled motorbikes and 83 genuine number plates at Eldoret Police Station on September 17, 2024, allegedly stolen within the county, and recovered in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, after a suspect was arrested while allegedly stealing from a rider outside the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Uasin Gishu County on Monday.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“I was from the overnight vigil prayers when they attacked me, slashing my right arm before escaping with my phone and cash,” disclosed the pastor, noting that the criminals are well-known people in the area.
The gangsters derive the name B13 from a notorious street in Muyaka estate believed to be their operational base.
According to Victor Waweru, a local boda boda operator, the gang is composed of young people aged between 17 and 30 years.
He said the gang members carry weapons in their jackets and pretend to be harmless youths as they prey on their target.
“They hide machetes in their jackets and behave as weak people, but when the time of attack comes, they apply extreme force to their targets,” said Mr Waweru.
Mr Waweru narrated how he narrowly escaped the wrath of the criminals after they attempted to rob him of his motorcycle.
“The criminals targeted my motorcycle, luckily, they were repulsed by my colleagues who came to my rescue after I raised the alarm,” said Mr Waweru.
Local village elder Christopher Mundia blamed the emergence of criminal gangs in the area on unemployment, substance abuse, and irresponsible parenting.
Mr Mundia exonerated police from blame saying that whenever the suspects are arrested there are no people to testify in court hence they are released due to lack of evidence.
“The rise of criminal activities in this estate demands collective responsibility, we should not solely point accusing fingers at the police. Whenever police take suspects to court there are no witnesses to testify, hence they are released,” said Mr Mundia.
“Currently, there are no serious cases of security concern in the area, especially after having a public Baraza with locals to discuss the situation and there are let those with information share it with our officers for action to be taken,” said Mr Mwanthi.
A gang has been terrorising residents of Muranga County.
Photo credit: Pool
A local human rights activist Kipkorir Ng’etich is advocating for mass community awareness on proper parenting, anti-drug campaign, and job creation and supporting sport activities for youths in the area as one of the lasting approaches to eradicate crime in the estate.
“As we call for urgent government action to eradicate criminals in the entire Eldoret city. There is a need to create awareness on drug abuse, proper parenting among other approaches for social change,” said Mr Ng’etich.
At the same time, Mr Ng’etich reiterated the need to bolster security in areas considered hot spots by deploying a special police unit to deal with the gang and arraign them.
