Residents of Gaichanjiru area in Kandara sub county, Murang’a County want the police to apprehend a gang of youths that has been terrorizing them for months. According to residents, the said gang comprises of school going boys and boda boda riders.
The gang of six men has been terrorizing residents at night and during the day time using pangas and rungus.
Cyrus Kamande and his wife narrate how they survived the beating from this notorious gang to a point that he was stubbed with a knife.
Residents are know crying foul due to increased insecurity as they can’t enjoy good environment for their business.
A recent case happened yesterday after a 28 year old man was attacked by the said gang. He died on Monday at Gaichanjiru Mission hospital while receiving treatment.
Locals said the gang attacked Samuel Ngugi’s home at 2am on Monday night as he slept. Forcefully trying to make their way into his house, Samuel fled for his dear life into the neighboring home, but the gang got hold of him few meters after he tripped off. They gave him a thorough beating using rungus which left him unconscious.
His screams however attracted a neighbor who was brave enough to go to the scene and plead with the gang to spare his life. Two other people who were living in the compound, his aunt and her younger brother, fled into the night as they feared facing off with the gang.
Bernard Wanyoike who is the agro-marketing chief executive officer in the county government said he invited Ngugi into his home last year on April after his work was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and narrates the series of events.
The neighbor then rushed him to Gaichanjiru mission hospital where he succumbed as he was receiving treatment.
Wanyoike said the village has experienced a rise in insecurity owing to the gang and pleaded with the local police to take action and ensure it is stopped.
Just a 100 meters away from Wanyoike’s home, the gang had attacked another home few days ago but was offered money in order to leave the family alone.
In a nearby bar, the youths attacked a man for refusing them alcohol adding that the area should be supported with proper security systems as even children are attacked as they go to school.
Laban Thuo, a youth leader in Kandara constituency said the gang seems to be working for an avocado selling cartel as it is mostly targeting youths working in the sector.
He said it is shocking that the gang walks around armed with pangas and even attacks people in burial preparations yet the police have done nothing.
Cyrus Kamande said the gang stabbed him two weeks ago at 7 pm when he refused to give out the money he had earned for the day.
The following day, they waylaid his wife as she went to fetch water from the river and assaulted her. The two reported the incident to the police.
The residents said the gang is a replica of another gang that was terrorizing residents in the same area in early 1970 know as “caitan” devil.
The police have promised to continue investigating the gang and the suspects will be arrested.