Interior CS Murkomen orders crackdown amid muggings in Nairobi CBD

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered a major crackdown on muggings in Nairobi, directing security agencies to intensify operations against criminal gangs targeting unsuspecting residents.

The CS said the government is concerned about the surge in violent robberies, many linked to groups posing as street children.

Kenyans have been taking to social media to share harrowing experiences at the hands of juvenile delinquents, saying they have been followed, robbed in broad daylight, and in some cases threatened with knives or harassed in shocking ways.

Kimathi Street, once a bustling thoroughfare, has become perilous after midnight.

“I have seen this thing continue. These boys throw hospital waste like syringes to scare us, and they use them to threaten us,” said Nicholas Kogi, a CBD trader.

Along Moi Avenue, pedestrians walk with heightened anxiety, unsure when or where criminals might strike. Erick Okumu, a watchman, recounted how he was mugged by the gang.

“Last week Thursday, I tried to stop them from harassing a woman. They beat me up and stole my phone,” said Okumu.

Eliud Kairethia, another victim, shared his experience: “This knife mark you see here was from an attack. They pretend to be hawkers, then suddenly grab you, threaten you with knives, and take your money and phone.”

Tom Mboya Street and Ufugamano Road remain high-risk zones, especially after dark, with poor visibility compounding the threat. Joseph Mwaura said he was accosted by a group of street children.

“They stopped me and asked what I was carrying. Luckily, I had hidden my phone, because one of them suggested they either stab me or smear me with human waste,” Mwaura said.

Another danger spot targeted by gangs is Jogoo Road, particularly the Mbotela stretch, where poor street lighting creates ideal conditions for criminal activity.

“People like us who work at night often meet thugs before reaching home. Even women going to the market are attacked,” said Joseph Mwangangi, a Mbotela resident.

Victims say mobile phones, laptops, and cash are the most frequently stolen items. The criminals often work in groups, using motorcycles to make a quick getaway, even escaping in the glare of CCTV cameras across the CBD.

Cs Murkomen confirmed that a security operation is currently underway to tackle the rising cases of muggings in Nairobi’s CBD.

“These so-called street children organize themselves in small groups with knives and attack unsuspecting citizens. That is the daily responsibility of OCSs and police officers in those areas. It should not wait for a special directive,” said Murkomen.

“Instead of arresting thieves, the government comes after us hawkers who are just trying to earn a living. It feels unfair,” said Peter Kirathe, a CBD hawker.