38 suspects arrested as police crack down on criminal gangs after Ruto’s Nairobi tour

38 suspects arrested as police crack down on criminal gangs after Ruto’s Nairobi tour

File image of a police vehicle.

Several people are still counting losses from the aftermath of lawlessness witnessed during President Ruto’s weeklong tour of Nairobi County.

Affected citizens have recounted their harrowing ordeal in the hands of criminals who targeted them before robbing them of their valuables in broad daylight encounters.

Shockingly, a majority of victims have failed to file formal reports with the police, citing a lack of trust in the security agency.

What began as President Ruto’s weeklong tour of Nairobi County, as the head of state preached his gospel, quickly turned into a field day for daring criminal elements.

Innocent Kenyans who were caught up in the melee fell victim to gangsters, robbery, and broad-daylight thuggery.

"Mimi waliniibia kila kitu, wakanitoa mpaka nguo wakichukua simu na pesa… sikureport coz hata police hawawezi kusaidia kitu… na hao watu walikuwa wengi," says Teresia Ngina, a trader.

Rowdy youths took matters into their own hands, grabbing anything and everything they came across.

A majority of those affected were hustlers who were either doing or going about their hustle, such scenes coming barely two years after the head of state promised them goodies through his hustler narrative.

"Mimi walianza kwa kugrab kisu, wakaniambia nipeane simu na wakakula na kubeba mtura yangu yote," says John Muthui, a mutura trader.

Events during the president’s five-day tour became uglier as days went by, from marauding criminal gangs to tragic accidents associated with his convoy.

Following the uproar that the National Police Service failed to guarantee citizens their security, Nairobi police boss George Sedah says that as much as there was a lapse in security, at least they arrested 38 culprits who were facing the law. A manhunt is on for those on the run.

Nairobi police boss George Sedah said: "They started even stopping vehicles on the road, they took advantage of the situation. Those kinds of things cannot be allowed to continue. Those were criminals, and their intention was to commit crimes. Criminal gangs—we cannot allow them."

Tags:

William Ruto Nairobi

Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories