Police in Nakuru Town West among them the Officer Commanding Rhonda Police Station have been reshuffled following intensified criminal gang activities that have left residents terrified.
Nakuru County Commissioner, Loyford Kibaara said more than five criminal gangs in the area have been engaging in rivalry fights that have spilt into the communities in Shabab, Sewage, Pondamali, Stima-line, Mwariki, Mauki, Grogon and Jasho areas among others.
He said the upsurge in crimes that include daylight muggings, snatching and knife-stabbing has been on the rise over the past month adding that the security organs will not condone such behaviour.
“There was tension in some parts of Nakuru Town West on Monday evening when two criminal gangs clashed but the youths did not only fight their rivals, they started attacking people randomly, stealing from them and stabbing some,” he said.
Kibaara said three people have so far been killed in the clashes and many people injured in the intensified by the gangs.
A tour of the affected areas has revealed that tension is still high in the affected areas with businesses closing as early as 6:30 pm and residents being indoors by 7:00 pm.
The residents seem to have a self-imposed curfew a situation that compelled Kibaara and the Nakuru County Police Commander, Zachary Kimani to reassure residents of their security.
“A section of the people have taken advantage of the situation to spread fake news on alleged murders of members of the communities but the three deaths that have been confirmed are those of gang members,” he said.
Kibaara said the residents felt that police were colluding with the gangs which necessitated the immediate transfer of Rhonda OCS with immediate effect.
“Police officers who have been serving the area for long periods will also be transferred because it is evident from the testimonies that they have condoned the gangs,” he said,
He also expressed his frustration saying that a security officer had arrested 300 gang members in the past two weeks but they were all released in court with lenient penalties of as low as Sh1000 while others were given community service for punishment.
Kimani said Rhonda Police Station will be under his command even as he pitches camp in Nakuru Town West to ensure normalcy returns.
He said the gangs which started in Nakuru Town East seem to have moved to the West after the environment in their former bases became inhabitable for them.
Criminal gangs in Nakuru started with one famously referred to as Confirm and has since splintered into more than 12 gangs and spread to three sub-counties.
The gangs have been terrorising residents and sometimes engage in gang fights that have left 10s of youths dead.
