Gun-toting thugs take over Karen suburb as security agencies slumber

For the last two weeks, a gang operating on motorbikes has been terrorising Karen residents. The attack patterns - where the victims are left with deep cuts - suggest that it is the same gang.

In one of the attacks along Nyumba Moja Road, two men on a motorbike accosted three men at about 9.30pm and stabbed one of them in the stomach when he tried to resist.

Before that, there had been another attack just about a kilometre away by a gang on a motorbike.

Yoni Rattansi said his belly was ripped open when he tried to ward off the attackers, who he described as young boys who were casually but smartly dressed. He said they had apparently attacked another victim near Bomas of Kenya.

“If they had no gun, I would have fought to the end but they threatened to shoot, forcing me into submission,” said Mr Rattansi, adding that he was admitted in hospital for one and a half weeks. 

On the stretch between Bomas of Kenya and where he was attacked, two other people were reportedly attacked.

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And in another attack along the road heading to Mamba Village off Langata Road, a man was accosted by two gun-toting thugs on a motorbike and robbed of Sh20,000.

There was yet another attack on the road going down to Kuwinda slums on the same night.

Boda boda riders in the area are worried that the attacks might set them on a collision course with security agencies.

RIDERS' ASSOCIATION

Speaking to Metropolitan, an official of the local riders' association said the attacks were a re-emerging trend that was most likely being perpetrated by people who live outside Karen.

“These thieves most likely come from outside Karen and ride in to wreak havoc before disappearing,” said Godfrey Omondi. 

He said in 2014, when he started his boda boda business in the area, there were few cases of theft.

But in 2015, there was an upsurge of attacks on residents, which led to a security order banning boda boda riders from operating past 7pm.

“We were banned from operating at night, which hurt both us and residents, especially someone like me who has another job during the day and does this business in the evening,” said Omondi.

Those found flouting the order were arrested or flogged by security officers. This was coupled with an operation that saw a number of thugs gunned down after which there was relative peace.

BUSINESS HURTING

With their business hurting, the local boda boda riders decided to form a group to champion their rights and negotiate with security agencies.

As a result, the Karen Langata Motorbike Association was formed.

“Apart from just negotiating for the lifting of the 7pm ban, the group also decided to have its members get special registration plates,” said Omondi.

In response to the latest attacks, police shot dead a suspected thug while his accomplices are believed to have escaped with bullet wounds using a motorbike they were using to terrorise residents near Kuwinda.

The area has two police stations – Karen, which is the divisional police headquarters, and Hardy.

A police officer told Metropolitan that 15 more officers had been deployed to the area to beef up patrols and security.