Uasin Gishu county commissioner Edison Nyale checks stolen items recovered from suspects arrested in Eldoret
Police in Eldoret have launched a crackdown on criminal gangs of youths terrorising residents of the city for the last three months.
Uasin Gishu county commissioner Edison Nyale said security agencies had identified some of the gangs that mostly operate in residential areas at night, carrying out muggings, violent robberies and house break-ins.
“We have dismantled some of them already and those still operating will be dealt with accordingly. We will crush them with speed if there are any still existing,” he said.
Some of the gangs call themselves as B13 and DNA. Several others have been profiled and dealt with by security agencies.
The county commissioner said security initiatives like the Nyumba Kumi and community policing groups were working well in helping security teams deal with crime.
“That is why we have recorded reduced rates of crime in most areas of our county because we are working with residents to ensure we are all safe,” Nyale said.
He spoke at Eldoret police station, where he stated that two suspects had been arrested for running a mobile phone hacking and resale racket.
Officers acting on a public tip-off and working with M-Kopa liaison personnel raided a phone repair shop near the Eldoret Shuttle booking office.
They found the suspects with 28 assorted mobile phones, including some belonging to M-Kopa.
Nyale said the two suspects are believed to be part of a broader syndicate involved in flashing stolen phones or those bought on credit to bypass payment.
During the operation, officers recovered several electronic devices they suspected were used for illegal activities.
They included two HP laptops, two CPUs, seven hard drives, a Pandora Box, a dongle, and one JTAG device.
Police said the equipment was capable of altering IMEI numbers and bypassing phone security features.
The suspects are being held at Eldoret Police Station as forensic investigations continue and are expected to be arraigned in court today (Monday)
Police urged members of the public to remain alert and report any illegal activities to the nearest police station.
“NPS warns the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mobile devices from unscrupulous traders or getting involved in fraudulent activities,” a police statement read.
The arrest of the two came barely two weeks after six other suspects were arrested and assorted stolen mobile phones recovered from them in an operation in Nairobi.
Police said they also recovered Sh614,000 from the suspects, which they believe are proceeds of the crime.
The recovered mobile phones were stolen from separate parts of the city and were valued at Sh3 million, Nairobi regional police commander George Sedah said.
He added they were looking for more suspects in connection with the crime.
Uasin Gishu acting police commander Denson Muga said they had deployed officers in all parts of the city to maintain security.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Some of the gangs use boda bodas to ride around the city, staging surprise attacks to snatch items from residents.
Uasin Gishu county commissioner Edisson Nyale says security agencies are aware of all the gangs and working to dismantle them by ensuring those involved face the law.
They stage violent attacks on residents, including during events like funerals and weddings.
The gangs have been reported in residential estates including Kipkaren, Mwanzo, Kamukunji, Kapsoya and Munyaka.
