Nairobi, Kenya — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a sweeping crackdown on juvenile gangs in Nairobi following the death of a 15-year-old boy during violent gang clashes in Umoja.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 27, the agency confirmed that Joshua Kubiti, a Form Two student, succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Radiant Hospital in Umoja after a brawl between rival teenage gangs turned deadly.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has launched comprehensive investigations into the rise of juvenile gangs in Umoja and its environs. This follows a viral video on social media showing a group of boys engaged in violent clashes, which tragically resulted in the death of 15-year-old Joshua Kubiti,” the statement read.
The Rise of Teenage Gangs
DCI revealed that the gangs—composed mainly of school-going boys and girls aged between 12 and 19—operate under notorious names such as Chinje, Mbogi, Bad Bunny, and Silent. These groups have been linked to violent clashes, phone snatching, and theft across Nairobi’s Eastlands neighborhoods, including Tena, Innercore, Umoja I, II, and III, Kayole, and Kariobangi.
Recruitment into these gangs, detectives noted, often spikes during school holidays, making teenagers easy prey for criminal networks.
In a targeted operation led by Buruburu-based detectives, 14 juveniles (10 boys and 4 girls) were arrested. They were arraigned at the Makadara Law Courts, where detectives secured custodial orders to allow in-depth investigations into Joshua’s death.
“The suspects remain in custody as detectives pursue justice for Joshua and dismantle these dangerous gangs,” DCI said.
The agency assured Kenyans of a sustained campaign to curb teenage crime.
“The National Police Service reiterates its unwavering commitment to maintaining law and order and assures members of the public of their safety. A sustained crackdown against juvenile gangs and other criminal elements in Nairobi and across the country remains ongoing,” the statement concluded.
Separate Operation Nets Violent Robbery Suspects in Kisii and Nyamira
Earlier Wednesday, DCI also announced the arrest of three suspects behind a spate of violent robberies, rape, and defilement in Kisii and Nyamira counties.
The suspects—William Obiero Gekonge, James Mogaka Otego, and Justus Ondieki Nyabuto—are accused of terrorizing residents in Ramasha and Magena, including attacking a 96-year-old grandmother in a chilling night raid.
“In one incident, the gang bowed their heads as the elderly woman prayed, only to rob her moments later. They drank her milk, ate her food, and made away with electronics,” DCI disclosed.
The breakthrough followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering by the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), bringing an end to what detectives described as a “dreaded reign of terror.”
Security analysts warn that the resurgence of juvenile gangs poses a long-term threat to public safety, especially in urban centers. Experts attribute the problem to idle school holidays, peer pressure, and lack of structured youth engagement programs.
With DCI’s intensified operations, questions now linger on whether law enforcement alone can break the cycle—or if broader social interventions are needed to steer Kenya’s youth away from crime.
Leave a Reply