Six individuals, among them two minors, have been formally charged with robbery with violence following a chilling incident that saw a family in Eastlands, Nairobi, forcefully evicted from their home and stripped of their possessions.
The accused were arraigned before the Makadara Law Courts in a case that has sparked renewed concerns about rising teenage gang activity in the city's informal settlements.
The suspects, identified as Michael Wanjiru, Peter Muema, Lucas Ng'ang'a, and John Irungu, were charged alongside two minors whose identities have been withheld due to their age.
They are believed to be part of a growing network of youth gangs operating in the Eastlands region, allegedly responsible for a string of violent incidents in recent months.
According to police reports, the case arises from an incident on the night of August 28, at approximately 10 pm, when the suspects are alleged to have broken into the home of Lucy Karanja in Njiru Sub-County. The gang reportedly assaulted Karanja, inflicting a deep cut on her face, before chasing her and her three children out of their home. They then looted the residence, making away with numerous household items.
Among the stolen property were a television set valued at Sh15,000, a gas cylinder, a gas cooker, various utensils, clothing, and furniture. The brazen robbery left the family homeless and traumatised, prompting swift action from local law enforcement.
Early the next morning, on August 29, around 4 am, two of the minors were apprehended at Siranga Estate while in possession of items believed to have been stolen from Karanja's home. These included a student's study desk and various household items.
The four adult suspects were later arrested and charged with being in possession of suspected stolen goods. One of the minors, aged 15, had his birth certificate presented in court and was remanded at Kamiti Juvenile Remand Centre.
All six suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate Agnes Mwangi granted each accused a bond of Sh200,000 or a cash bail alternative of Sh100,000.
The court ordered a medical assessment to verify his age, pending a decision on his placement in a juvenile correctional facility, and a full hearing is scheduled to begin in October.
