Gangs, the mafia and organized criminal groups initially spring up to provide “protection” for their lords. Overtime, some expend the bulk of their activities into the production and distribution of a wide range of goods and services, both legal and illegal – from drugs and gambling, to construction, even to investment banking (Dawkins, 1997). They provide goods and services like any other legit entity.
Extortionist gangs in Kenya sprung up during former President Moi’s era. Known for their brutality, the defunct Mungiki
cornered the government into agreeing, albeit unofficially to share power, at least in the violence arena. Legally, violence is monolithically a government preserve.
Like other serious gang leaders worth of mention, Mungiki’s Maina Njenga exploited the group’s organizational structure to become a player in national politics. Exit Mungiki, enter more sophisticated, well oiled and image conscious groups portraying themselves as well intentioned service providers in Nairobi.
Like Mungiki, one particular group’s ability to infiltrate the top echelons of government has left many wondering what drives them. An entity that is neither governmental nor nongovernmental (NGO) cannot just decide to provide services parallel to those provided or not provided by the government.) Such entities are quick to dismiss critics who dare question their motivation and sources of their endless resources.
Last week Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero unleashed a scathing attack on an unnamed group and alleged that the city was being run by drug barons masquerading as empathetic services providers. Within minutes Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko “clarified” for the umpteenth time that he is not a drug trafficker and accused the governor of deflecting corruption allegations. Accusations and counter aside, the fact is that drug cartels and organized criminal gangs pose the greatest threat to Kenya’s national security and moral fabric with the potential of wiping out an entire generation.
Whether Kidero is right or not is beside the point. What is important is for Kenyans to explore the overt and covert characteristics of organized criminal gangs around the world to fully understand the risk posed by the suspicious, unrealistic and over publicized acts of “generosity” by senator Sonko. Let me explain:
Scholars argue that organized criminal gangs spring up during transition periods. They are prevalent in transition economies such as Mexico, Colombia and other Latin American countries. From the Sicilian Mafia and the Camorra of Italy, Mexico’ s Gulf and Sinaloa cartels or even Colombia’s Medellin cartel, all these gangs were involved in the illegal drug trade.
Such groups emerge and establish themselves in weak and corrupt states.
Today, Kenya is an economy in transition and corruption has reached staggering proportions.
Secondly, bureaucratic or corporate organized criminal gangs have complex authority structures with clear “top-down” communications, extensive division of labor and clear responsibilities as well as laid down rules and regulations.
In September 2012, Rafael Cardenas Vela, who ran three territories or “plazas” for Mexico’s Gulf cartel told a Texas court that he had different managers for the departments of marijuana, cocaine and extortion who were all answerable to one senior manager. To diversify income they also set up high class pharmacies along the US-Mexican border.
If such a structure is anything to go by, the organizational structure of SRT, which remotely resembles a fortune 200 company raises eyebrows. The senator is the quintessential spokesman of the SRT. The teams providing ambulances and those providing wedding limousine services do not cross paths. The machine gun wielding security men trailing the senator and other “dignitaries” such as Paul Kobia have nothing to do with the funeral transporters.
Third, organized criminal gangs exercise hard and soft power by mediating disputes, sanctioning behavior among residents and protecting communities against police abuses in exchange for being protected by the communities.
Because of their fluidity and elasticity of structure they are able to reach out and recruit from different cadres of society.
According to Dr. Lillian Bobea (2013) organized criminal gangs in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have established clear-cut alliances with political parties and sectors of the state. By so doing, they bring benefits to certain marginalized communities that the state has long proved incapable of serving properly. In some Latin American countries , these gangs have are embedded to the point of becoming a parallel power. Their
interests overlap with politicians, bureaucrats, and law enforcement. The confluence of all these factors defies any simplistic, conventional response. Back in Kenya, does the Sonko Rescue Team seem to enjoy any camaraderie with other politicians and security organs?
Fourth, organized criminal gangs never reveal their real sources of money. They exhibit flamboyance and lavish lifestyles yet they operate miniature legitimate businesses. They often sympathize with the downtrodden. The “ mob” in New York for instance operates simple restaurants and cigar salons and are known to take care of their own. They pose as successful businessmen with scanty details of their ventures.
Recently, the Nairobi senator unsatisfactorily explained that he makes his money from flipping “real estate” and “friends.” But with Sonko’s “generosity”, how much real estate would one need to buy and sell to stay above water? The late Gerishon Kirima who was rumored to have owned almost half of real estate in Eastlands barely gave money to his children, leave alone strangers. Controversial real estate mogul Donald Trump who started building his real estate empire while Sonko was still running around in diapers barely gives a penny for no gain. Sonko’s “real estate” must dwarf Kirima’s and Trump’s in comparison.
Philanthrophy and corporate social responsibility usually come after businesses have maximized on their profits. Even then they claim such donations when they file their tax returns. This begs the question; what expenses does Sonko claim when and if he files tax returns?